Saturday, January 23, 2010

Jesus gives a peculiar compliment!

Homily
Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Ordinary Time
Memorial of Timothy and Titus, bishops
26 January 2010
Holy Spirit Parish
Year for Priests

For daily readings, click here

Jesus' mom was checking up on him. Mark tells us that Jesus was working all day. Teaching and healing. The people wouldn't let him sleep. They wouldn't let him eat. People just kept coming and coming and coming. We hear in many places in the Gospels that his family thinks Jesus is out of his mind. There will be no end to to his popularity or to the demands people will make on him. No person could do what people were beginning to expect Jesus to do. So Mary comes with Jesus' extended family to check on him. And they don't even get close to him. They remain outside. Jesus didn't even give his mom the time of day.

Simeon predicted to Mary at Jesus' presentation that a sword would pierce her heart. We see it happening in today's Gospel when she is ignored by her son, at least on the surface. In today's Gospel, Mary had to give her son into the hands of people. That was his mission. She wanted to check on him, to do something for him, to give him some rest and the love of family to restore him. But he ignored her. Kind of. Without even taking the time to see her, Jesus gives his mom a compliment. Who is my mother? The one who does the will of God. Well, if anything, this matches Jesus' mother perfectly. Mary did exactly what was asked of her. She is first in Jesus' heart, not only because she is his biological mother, but also because she is the very best and knowing and doing the will of God. Mary was chosen of all women because she was most ready to do the will of God, so Mary is not only the mother of Jesus, but becomes the mother of all those who seek to do the will of God. She is the mother of our vocations, and Jesus points her out as such in today's Gospel. In saying that those who do the will of God are his mother and brothers and sisters, Jesus gives his mom the mysterious compliment of being his spiritual mother in addition to being his biological mother, and even as he does not take the time to greet her personally, he calls all those around him to imitate her perfect example. +m

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