Saturday, October 14, 2023
Jl 4:12-21; Lk 11:27-28
Today’s gospel highlights blessedness as the fruit of faithful observance of God’s word.
However, while talking about blessedness, Jesus seems to ignore or disregard the woman’s praise for his mother.
Jesus should have proudly acknowledged her compliment. Instead, he is quick to talk about those who will be more blessed than his mother.
Does Jesus disrespect his mother?
Jesus is at a point in his life where, for him, the Kingdom community, united in God’s name, matters more and above all else. He begins to regard everyone based on the person’s allegiance to the Kingdom ideals, especially by following his teachings.
Hence, it would be wrong to explain Jesus’ response to the woman as hatred or indifference towards his mother. In what he says, Jesus indicates that he does not remain shackled to his immediate family but transcends it so that he can now extend such a familial bond to everyone who shares the faith as members of ‘one believing family.’
Jesus’ response is simultaneously a move away from his immediate family and a move toward this extended family.
If Jesus regarded the faith community as the ideal family, how exemplary should our behaviour be towards those who follow Christ? What can explain the bias, partiality, and discrimination within Christianity?
Let us pray for the grace to be and behave like the Kingdom People!
Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar
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