Homily for Tuesday, 21 July 2015– Ferial

Tuesday of the 16th week in Ordinary Time

Readings of the day: Exodus 14:21-15:1;  Responsorial Canticle: Exodus 15:8-9, 10, 12, 17; Matthew 12:46-50

What is Jesus asking of us in our Gospel reading today? Does Jesus not seem a bit rude; aloof toward his own family members? Somebody says to Jesus, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside asking to speak with you.” Instead of going out to speak with his family, Jesus turns his attention to his disciples, saying: “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother and sister and mother.”

Why would Jesus say and act like this? Is he not undervaluing family? And what exactly is “the will of [our] Father” (a broad concept) that Jesus asks us to do? How many of us find our Gospel reading today somewhat troubling?

I do not believe that Jesus was rude or aloof toward his family. But then our Gospel reading from Matthew raises still more questions. What exactly is Jesus’ point in calling anybody who does his and our heavenly Father’s “will” his “brother and sister and mother”?

Perhaps the simplest interpretation of Jesus’ message is that our relationship with God is more important and ultimately deeper than even blood relationships. By doing “the will of [our] heavenly Father” we strengthen our relationship with God, which is comparable to our relationships with family members and blood relatives.

But then how do we do God’s will as Jesus asks us and so become like family to God by the closeness of our relationship with God? I think our Gospel Acclamation verse today may help us to answer this question. We hear today as our Gospel Acclamation Jesus’ words: “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him.”

Love is the litmus test of all relationships. The ultimate love; the kind of love of God and of one another; the love as family that Jesus asks of us is love that purposefully seeks the good of one another. This kind of love leaves no room for gossip or otherwise ruining another’s good reputation without sufficient reason. This kind of love especially means to anticipate one another’s needs: Does another person (especially somebody in our family, among our friends or worshipping community) need material or spiritual support? Does another person (or do we) need somebody to keep us morally accountable (although I encourage caution here so that keeping others accountable does not become criticism that tears others down; that fails to uphold their dignity)?

St. Augustine once said, “Love and do what you will.” Love; seek the good of one another: This, I believe, is how Jesus asks us to do his and our heavenly Father’s will. To take the most loving action in any and all situations; in all relationships is not easy. This takes constant discernment. But in this way Jesus is not anti-family, aloof, or rude in our Gospel reading today.

Love, and the great intimacy of relationship God wants with us, extends beyond blood relationships. We can, with God’s grace, be like family, and even more important and beloved than family, to God if we love one another; if we do our heavenly Father’s will by purposefully and first seeking one another’s good and ultimately one another’s salvation.