Homily for September 24, 2019

In response to the people telling Him that family members were looking for Him, Jesus said that His real family “are those who hear the Word of God and act on it.” It is clear from His response that Jesus wants to relate to us as His family. He calls us His brothers and sisters and wants us to belong to His spiritual family. For us to become His family is simple in theory: we need to hear the Word of God and put it into practice in our everyday lives.

Throughout His life and ministry, Jesus’ focus was on the Word of God and the will of God. He heard that Word so fully that it shaped everything He said and did. John’s Gospel even calls Jesus the Word made flesh. (John 1:14)

As Christians, we are called to hear the Word of God and to act on it in everything that we say and do. Like the seed that fell on rich soil, we must take the Word to our deepest selves and yield an abundant harvest. (Matthew 13:18) If we listen to the God’s Word and let it shape us and our lives, then we are brothers and sisters to Jesus our LORD. +