First reading Zechariah 2:14-17
‘I am coming’, says the Lord
Sing, rejoice,
daughter of Zion;
for I am coming
to dwell in the middle of you
– it is the Lord who speaks.
Many nations will join the Lord,
on that day;
they will become his people.
But he will remain among you,
and you will know that the Lord of Hosts has sent me to you.
But the Lord will hold Judah
as his portion in the Holy Land,
and again make Jerusalem his very own.
Let all mankind be silent before the Lord!
For he is awaking and is coming from his holy dwelling.
Responsorial Psalm Luke 1:46-55
The Almighty works marvels for me. Holy is his name!
or
Blessed is the Virgin Mary, who bore the Son of the eternal Father.
My soul glorifies the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
He looks on his servant in her nothingness;
henceforth all ages will call me blessed.
The Almighty works marvels for me.
Holy his name!
His mercy is from age to age,
on those who fear him.
He puts forth his arm in strength
and scatters the proud-hearted.
He casts the mighty from their thrones
and raises the lowly.
He fills the starving with good things,
sends the rich away empty.
He protects Israel, his servant,
remembering his mercy,
the mercy promised to our fathers,
to Abraham and his sons for ever.
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.’
_____________________________________________
Mary, the one who did God’s will
In today’s gospel, Jesus is told that His mother and brothers are outside, wanting to speak with Him. He responds, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He says, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” At first glance, this might seem like a dismissal of Mary, but it is quite the opposite. Jesus is not denying His relationship with her; rather, He is elevating it. Mary is not just His mother by blood—she is His mother most profoundly because she did the will of the Father. From the moment of the Annunciation, when Mary said, “Let it be done to me according to your word,” her entire life was marked by surrender to God’s will. In joy, in suffering, in silence, and in trust, Mary followed where God led. She teaches us that true kinship with Christ is found not in status or title, but in obedience to God’s will.
Today, let us follow Mary’s example of listening, trusting, and saying “yes” to God in the everyday moments of our lives. In doing so, we too become part of Christ’s family.
Reflective question:
Am I truly open to doing the will of God in my daily life, as Mary was?
Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD
