From the Word of the Day
“Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Mark 3: 34-35
How should we live this Word 
Not only were the Scribes against Jesus, but His relatives as well. They did not accept what He was doing and wanted Him to return home. Jesus takes this occasion to make His relatives and the crowds understand that what He is offering goes beyond any other reality, even blood ties. It regards doing God’s will and bringing forth His Kingdom. In fact, it deals with the heritage of all those who freely listen to and receive the God who created them, sustains them in life, saves them from sin, and wants their eternal happiness.
Whoever listens to Jesus and believes in Him and in the Father who sent Him, becomes a disciple, an intimate collaborator to develop God’s Kingdom on this earth. This is what Mary, Jesus’ Mother, did. Her total ‘yes’ to the Father gave the Savior to the world, He who had been the promised of generations. From that moment, Mary is intimately united to Her Son in His mission, offering herself with Him for the full realization of the Father’s plan. We are an integral part of this story and, like Mary, faithful and dedicated disciples. Thus we become mother, brother, sister to many other persons along the roads of life.
Today in my pause for silent contemplation, I will seek to deepen my understanding of belonging to Jesus and to the Kingdom. This is my heritage to accept freely and to guard. It is a treasure to appreciate and to share.
Lord Jesus, I entrust myself to You and to Your Mother! Help me to change from a superficial knowledge to true love, full of trust.
The voice of St. Francis of Sales
We do not begin to love God through knowledge but because His goodness gives us faith. Then we delightfully savor this goodness with love. Love increases savor and savor refines love. In this way, savor for good raises love and love raises savor.
