The mother of Jesus and
his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd.
And he was told, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
wanting to see you." But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and do it." (Luke 8:19-21)
Introductory Prayer:
Lord, you are the author of life and the giver of all that is good. You are the
Prince of Peace and my mainstay. You are my healer and the cure itself. I need
you, and I need to give you. I love you and commit myself to you entirely, knowing
you could never let me down or deceive me. Thank you for giving me your very
self.
Petition: Lord, help me
hear your word and do it.
1. “We Wish to See
Jesus.” Today, as two thousand years ago, mankind longs to see the face of
Jesus. Each one has his own reason: some are in need of healing –– like
Bartimaeus, the blind man of Jericho who shouted after Jesus until he took pity
and cured him (Mark 10:46-52); some out of curiosity –– like Zacchaeus, who
climbed a tree to see Jesus because he was short in stature (Luke 19:2-10);
some to hear his word –– like the crowd that pressed in on him to hear the word
of God by the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1-10); some out of love and to look
after him – like the Blessed Virgin Mary and Mary Magdalene (Mark 15:41).
2. Christ Is Not Easily
Conquered: “They could not reach him because of the crowd.” Though we may seek
Christ with the purest of intentions, it is not always easy to achieve our
goal. There are bound to be obstacles along the way, and we have to be prepared
for them. Satan always tries to separate us from God through sin, even putting
the fear of confession in our hearts so we don’t receive God’s healing grace.
The world also attempts to keep us as far from God as possible, offering a
thousand distractions and amusements to lead us away from prayer, reflection
and conversion. And of course sometimes we ourselves are so little inclined to
piety, service to others and a virtuous life. Laziness and indolence can
overcome even the best of us. We need to let him know we are seeking him.
3. Jesus Rejects His
Closest Friends? What counts for Jesus are “those who listen to the word of God
and do it.” He came to preach to and save everyone. And contrary to the first
impression given by his words, this does not exclude his mother and his
relatives. Christ doesn’t lower them but
rather elevates us –– and them –– to a degree of intimacy greater than blood
ties. This is the beauty of God’s love: He calls us to an ever greater dignity
and intimacy with him.
Conversation with
Christ: Lord, I want to see your face in all the events and happenings of this
day. Drive away all my enemies and spiritual tepidity. Cure my spiritual
blindness, for you alone can help me. Without you I can do no good. Help me to
live up to this dignity you have bestowed upon me.
Resolution: I will reserve
five minutes this evening to do a thorough examination of conscience and
perhaps prepare for confession. I will eliminate the obstacles I have to seeing
God’s face and thank God for the graces he has given me
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