Tuesday, September 23, 2025

 

Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, priest

(Ezra 6:7-8.12b.14-20; Luke 8:19-21)

In today’s gospel Jesus reshapes his family.  He considers as “brothers and sisters” all who hear the word of God and act on it.  He does not exclude anyone -- much less his mother and his brothers -- who listen to God’s word and live it.  His mother will prove to be his faithful disciple to the end.  His “brothers” – whatever this term means – men like James and Jude will also teach Jesus Christ as Lord for the rest of their lives.

Today’s patron saint, Pius of Petrelcina, certainly lived as Jesus’ brother.  This twentieth century Capuchin priest was gifted not only with the stigmata, the wounds of Christ crucified, but also a remarkable insight into souls.  Residing most of his life in a southern Italian friary, “Padre Pio,” listened to the confessions of scores of people every day.  His spiritual guidance brought many to a closer relationship with the Lord.

We too are brothers and sisters of the Lord.  Moved serve others by the word of God and especially the definitive word, who is Jesus Christ, we become like him in spirit and truth.

Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time

(Ezra 6:7-8.12b.14-20; Luke 8:19-21)

Today’s gospel might be read as a corrective of an impression given in the parallel passage of Mark’s gospel.  The latter gospel has Jesus asking, “’…who are my mother and brothers?’” The question makes one think that Jesus may be denying Mary’s role in his life.  By omitting the question, Luke implies something very different of Mary’s relationship to Jesus.

In both Mark and Luke Jesus proclaims that are those who do the will of God comprise his family.  Luke is somewhat more expressive.  He quotes Jesus as saying his mother and brother “are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”  At the beginning of Luke’s gospel, Mary is the first to do just that.  She willingly accepts the angel’s message that she is to be the mother of the Savior.  Likewise, she makes haste to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth when the angel mentions the latter’s miraculous pregnancy. 

But the thrust of today’s passage is not so much Mary’s being named a disciple of Jesus as those sitting around him being designated his brothers and sisters.  We may include ourselves in that hppy family.  But first we must, like Mary, listen to the word of God with our hearts and act on it with our lives.

Homilette for Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Memorial of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, priest

(Luke 8:19-21)

We still tell the parents of a bride and groom that they are not losing a child but gaining one. In the gospel today Jesus indicates that his mother is not losing a son but gaining a host of children.

At first reading, it may appear that Jesus is distancing himself from Mary. He says rather brusquely that his mother and brother “are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” But recalling the beginning of Luke’s gospel, we remember how Mary is the first to do just that. She willingly accepts the angel’s message that she is to be the mother of the Savior. Likewise, she makes haste to visit her kinswoman Elizabeth when the angel mentions the latter’s miraculous pregnancy.

Still the thrust of this passage is not so much Mary’s being named the mother of Jesus as we being designated his brothers and sisters. We should note that the relationship is not attributed to everyone. No, to qualify as a member of Jesus’ family we must, like Mary, listen to the word of God with our hearts and act on it with our lives.