First reading Micah 7:14-15,18-20
Have pity on us one more time
With shepherd’s crook, O Lord, lead your people to pasture,
the flock that is your heritage,
living confined in a forest
with meadow land all around.
Let them pasture in Bashan and Gilead
as in the days of old.
As in the days when you came out of Egypt
grant us to see wonders.
What god can compare with you: taking fault away,
pardoning crime,
not cherishing anger for ever
but delighting in showing mercy?
Once more have pity on us,
tread down our faults,
to the bottom of the sea
throw all our sins.
Grant Jacob your faithfulness,
and Abraham your mercy,
as you swore to our fathers
from the days of long ago.
Responsorial Psalm 84(85):2-8
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy.
O Lord, you once favoured your land
and revived the fortunes of Jacob,
you forgave the guilt of your people
and covered all their sins.
You averted all your rage,
you calmed the heat of your anger.
Revive us now, God, our helper!
Put an end to your grievance against us.
Will you be angry with us for ever,
will your anger never cease?
Will you not restore again our life
that your people may rejoice in you?
Let us see, O Lord, your mercy
and give us your saving help.
Gospel Matthew 12:46-50
My mother and my brothers are anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven
Jesus was speaking to the crowds when his mother and his brothers appeared; they were standing outside and were anxious to have a word with him. But to the man who told him this Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?’ And stretching out his hand towards his disciples he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.’
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Belonging to God’s household
In the Gospel, Jesus addresses a crowd of people when His mother and relatives want to speak with Him. Looking at the crowd, He says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of my Father in heaven, he is my brother and sister and mother.” Jesus is not rejecting His family, but He emphasises that true kinship with Him is not based on blood relations, but on doing the Father’s will. Obedience is the true mark of belonging to God because it shows that our love is real and active, and not just words or feelings.
Today, we are invited to be part of Jesus’ family by listening and putting God’s word into practice. To obey is to trust God enough to allow His will to shape our daily choices, even when we do not fully understand His ways.
Reflective question:
How can I obey the Father’s will today so that my words and actions reflect that I am part of Jesus’ family?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year A” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
