Tuesday 23 September 2025 - Those who hear the word of God

Tuesday 23 September 2025

Today is Tuesday the 23rd of September, the feast of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. Leslie Jordan with the Porter’s Gate sings, ‘Bind Us Together’. Bind us together within your love Bind us together within your holy love As we shared in our sorrows we will share in your joy Bind us together in love Bind us together and be our peace Bind us together and be our perfect peace Though the tempest may rage we will rest in your joy Bind us together in peace Bind us together and give us hope Bind us together and give us endless hope Though our tears were our bread we will feast in your joy Bind us together in hope Bind us together and make us one Bind us together and make us truly one In your love, in your peace, in your hope, in your joy Bind us together as one Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 8:19-21 Then [Jesus’] mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’ The Jesus of the gospels is quite often jolly rude by our standards. He certainly seems to be radically free from conventional modes of behaviour. Going deeper, what’s Luke doing here? He is writing his gospel for a community that was not Jewish, but Greek speaking gentile. What’s he saying to this community he was writing to? What might that say to us now? Surely the same applies today. When a Christian person or nation is faithful to the radical teaching of Jesus on justice, mercy, compassion, they are Jesus' kin. How’s your church doing on that front? What about your nation? Might you talk to Jesus about this? Let’s focus on Mary, his mother, wanting to see her son this day. Listen again and imagine her hearing her son say these words. Luke 8:19-21 Then [Jesus’] mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.’ But he said to them, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’ How do you imagine the eventual meeting of Jesus with his mother when she finally gets to him? Speak to Jesus about all that has unfolded for you in this scene. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be World without end Amen