By William Selvaraj csc –
Readings: Prov 21: 1-6, 10-13; Lk 8: 19-21
Today, we celebrate the feast of St. Thomas of Villanova, Bishop, and Confessor.
He was an Augustinian hermit born in Spain and was an almsgiver famed as the “Father of the Poor.’ He labored at reforming the morals of both clergy and laity. He was an epitome of simplicity and poverty. He was canonized in 1658.
The message from the first reading of the day is that doing what is upright and just is more pleasing to Yahweh than sacrifice. Haughty eyes, proud heart, and lamp of the wicked are nothing but sins. Whoever refuses to listen to the cry of the poor and plead for the mercy of God, will not be heard.
The Gospel reading of the day teaches us the profound truth of who are the true kindred of Jesus. Mary, the mother of God accepts the will of God from the beginning. She was the very instrument in word becoming flesh. Mary was all along with Jesus throughout his ministry. She is also considered the first disciple. She accepted the will of God and practiced it in her life. This helped her to prepare her son to accomplish his Father’s will to die on the cross. She followed and remained faithful to the word of God throughout her life. That makes Jesus to say that his mother is among those who hear the word of God and do it. When you and I obey God’s word, we deepen our bond with Jesus.
Here comes a personal question for us: Do you hear the word of God and put it into practice? You and I possess the name of Christian because of our baptism but this does not necessarily mean that we belong to the family of Jesus who does his Father’s will. In order to belong to his family, it is necessary to put what Jesus taught all through his life on this earth into action. So, let us ask the grace of God to understand his will for us and practice his will on this earth by being upright and just in doing what is pleasing to him.