Daily Reflections ...

Jesus is approached by yet another large crowd and in typical Jesus fashion, he stops to tell two parables (The Sower and a Lamp under a Jar). Just as Jesus is towards the end of his second parable someone, we are not told who, tells Jesus that his mother and his brothers are trying to get to him but because of the large crowd they can not reach him.

On one hand, scripture scholars suggest that Jesus is portraying an important message to the crowd, namely, that those who are engaged in the work of God are his brothers and sisters. On the other hand, in a very practical sense, Jesus is out of reach of his own family because of the demands of his mission.

Despite the various messaging that our world may be giving us in this present time “our families, our homes, are true domestic churches. They are the right place for faith to become life, and life to grow in faith” as Pope Francis (World Meeting of Families Homily 27 September 2015) reminds us. In other words, family life is the seedbed of our faith.

Each of has a family whether that be a parish faith community, a hobby or sporting group or our blood families. Today Jesus challenges us to be more like Christ to these people in our lives so that the fragrant seeds of faith may bloom afresh every day. Let us be grateful for our families who have opened our hearts to faith and knowledge of Jesus through their witness and sharing.

by Isaac Falzon