September 25th, 2018

Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

LECTIONARY
450

FIRST READING
PRV 21:1-6, 10-13

Like a stream is the king’s heart in the hand of the LORD;
wherever it pleases him, he directs it.

All the ways of a man may be right in his own eyes,
but it is the LORD who proves hearts.

To do what is right and just
is more acceptable to the LORD than sacrifice.

Haughty eyes and a proud heart–
the tillage of the wicked is sin.

The plans of the diligent are sure of profit,
but all rash haste leads certainly to poverty.

Whoever makes a fortune by a lying tongue
is chasing a bubble over deadly snares.

The soul of the wicked man desires evil;
his neighbor finds no pity in his eyes.

When the arrogant man is punished, the simple are the wiser;
when the wise man is instructed, he gains knowledge.

The just man appraises the house of the wicked:
there is one who brings down the wicked to ruin.

He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor
will himself also call and not be heard.

PSALM
PS 119:1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44

Response: Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.

Blessed are they whose way is blameless,
who walk in the law of the LORD.

Make me understand the way of your precepts,
and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.

The way of truth I have chosen;
I have set your ordinances before me.

Give me discernment, that I may observe your law
and keep it with all my heart.

Lead me in the path of your commands,
for in it I delight.

And I will keep your law continually,
forever and ever.

GOSPEL
LK 8:19-21

The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Daily Reflection

25th September 2018

The Gospel text of today seems at variance with the gentle, loving image of Jesus that we have come to expect. Instead of going out to welcome his kinsfolk, he uses the occasion to define those who are really ‘related’ to him. He does not disown his Mother and other relatives; on the contrary, he reinforces that relationship is not by blood alone! We are all called to kinship with Christ through Baptism. We are all children of one Father. We acknowledge and profess this kinship when we are true to the Gospel message, becoming living examples of God’s love.

The first reading from Proverbs endorses this, providing a road map by indicating what pleases Yahweh: to do what is upright, to be hard-working, to be compassionate, to avoid deceit in all that we do, to listen to the cry of the poor and answer.

Jesus calls us to hear the word of God and put it into practice in the situations which we meet daily.

Do we heed this call? Can we count ourselves among Jesus’ kinsfolk?