Tuesday 24 September 2024

Today is Tuesday the 24th of September in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing Ngaza Ngambona: ‘They are blessed who keep his commandments; they will have their eternal place. Come in, all of you, so that you may be happy and be able to say, I’ve seen him on the cross, the one who loves me. Teach me, Father, to love you, praise you and pray to you.’ 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.’ Imagine that you are in this scene. Maybe you are inside the house with Jesus and his disciples, looking out, or outside with his waiting family, trying to look in. What is it like to be here? Picture the people here and imagine their conversations, all pressing in, wanting to be close to Jesus. Now picture the mother and brothers of Jesus as they try to make their way to see him. How do you think they are feeling, as they try to reach him? We may feel sympathy for this family as they stand outside, waiting for their arrival to be announced. Watch and listen now, as Jesus publicly states, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’ Perhaps there is a sense of disappointment or rejection for the family as Jesus seems to favour his followers. Can you relate to these feelings? On the other hand, imagine that you sit with the disciples of Jesus, as you hear his words, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it,’ You see him looking directly at you and naming you, as someone who hears his words and obeys him… he accepts you and regards you as one of his family… Take a moment or two to receive this gift of belonging to the family of Jesus. What does this mean to you? As we come to the end of this prayer time, take a moment to share your thoughts and feelings with Jesus. 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. Today is Tuesday the 24th of September in the 25th week of Ordinary Time. Ladysmith Black Mambazo sing Ngaza Ngambona: ‘They are blessed who keep his commandments; they will have their eternal place. Come in, all of you, so that you may be happy and be able to say, I’ve seen him on the cross, the one who loves me. Teach me, Father, to love you, praise you and pray to you.’ Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Luke. Luke 8:19-21 Then his 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.’ Imagine that you are in this scene, maybe you are inside the house with Jesus and his disciples, looking out, or outside with his waiting family, trying to look in…. what is it like to be here? Picture the people here and imagine their conversations, all pressing in, wanting to be close to Jesus. Now picture the mother and brothers of Jesus as they try to make their way to see him… How do you think they are feeling, as they try to reach him? We may feel sympathy for this family as they stand outside, waiting for their arrival to be announced. Watch and listen now, as Jesus publicly states, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.’ Perhaps there is a sense of disappointment or rejection for the family as Jesus seems to favour his followers. Can you relate to these feelings? On the other hand, imagine that you sit with the disciples of Jesus, and as you hear his words, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it,’ You see him looking directly at you and naming you, as someone who hears his words and obeys him… he accepts you and regards you as one of his family… Take a moment or two to receive this gift of belonging to the family of Jesus. What does this mean to you? As we come to the end of this prayer time, take a moment to share your thoughts and feelings with Jesus. 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.