For daily readings, see http://www.usccb.org/nab/092507.shtml
My mom is deceased, but I have four brothers still living. My dad and my one sister are also doing well. Today’s Gospel explains so simply I believe, the kind of family a priest is called to build, one that hears the word of God and acts upon it. The Gospel explains simply why in the western Church the discipline of celibacy is now expected of bishops and priests. They are to give preference to building a family not here on this earth, but a family whose true and lasting home is in heaven. Diocesan priests do this by their dedication to building up both the visible and the invisible Church.
Were Mary not the paradigmatic disciple, Jesus’ ignoring of the wishes of his mother to see Him would seem flippant and disobedient. But Mary leads the Church, the eternal family of God, in hearing the word of God, and obeying it, and so is honored by her Son’s comments, even as she must wait until He is finished teaching to see Him. In the same way, a priest honors the gift of life given by his biological family by teaching them how to listen to the word of God and to act on it. The priest loves his biological family best not by passing on life biologically, but in helping his family, and many others, to lay hold of the eternal life made possible by Jesus’ resurrection. A priest is set apart to celebrate the Eucharist, so that whoever eats this flesh and drinks this blood will live forever!
No comments:
Post a Comment