Reflection for TUESDAY, 3rd Week, Ordinary Time.

By

Fr. Aloysius Santiago sdb
Director, Social Action Movement, Don Bosco Bidar

Today's Gospel Verses 

Mark 3:31-35 

Who are my mother and my brothers? Those that do the will of God 

The mother and brothers of Jesus arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.’ 



Meditation on the Word of God 

It is a fact that in life, we are always connected with others in some kind of relationships.

No matter how independent or alone we may be, who we are and what we do will have an effect on others.

That also means that our existence in this world is not in a vacuum, or that no one knows who we are.

That also means that what we do is not an isolated action or that it does not affect anyone.

In the gospel, the mother and brothers of Jesus were asking for Him.

Obviously, what He was doing and what was happening to Him had made them either curious and anxious.

But Jesus said that anyone who does the will of God is His brother and sister and mother.

So when we want to do the will of God, it will certainly have an effect on others.

May what we do be always in accordance to the will of God so that it will also be for the good of others.


Saint of the day 

24 JANUARY

Image Credit: Wikipedia

ST. FRANCIS DE SALES (1567-1622) 

Francis was born at the Sales castle in Savoy, France. His wealthy family provided him with an excellent education. He went to the college of Clermont, Paris, under the care of the Jesuits. While studying theology, he developed serious scruples about the much-discussed Calvinist issue of predestination from which he was freed while praying to Our Mother.  As a result, he made a vow of chastity and consecrated himself to Our Mother. By the age of 24, Francis was a Doctor of Law. He returned to Savoy and led a hard-working life. In his heart, he listened to the call and became a priest at the age of 25. He lived in times when Christians were bitterly divided. He volunteered to go to a dangerous area of France to win back Catholics who had become Protestants. He and his cousin set out on foot to live with insults and physical discomforts and they were frequently in danger. Slowly, people returned to the Church. Francis eventually became the Bishop of Geneva, Switzerland. With the help of Jane de Chantal, he started a religious order of the Visitation for sisters. Francis wrote wonderful books about the spiritual life and the way to become holy. They are considered spiritual classics. He died at the age of 56. He was declared a saint by Pope Innocent X in 1665. Because of his heroic dedication to the Church, he was given the special title "Doctor of the Church." He is also the patron saint of journalists.

GOD BLESS YOU

Have a great day. 

HAPPY FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES