Homily: July 19, 2022, Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time.

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 “Here are my mother and my brothers”.

Imagine Jesus saying these same words to all of us here. He is looking at every one of us and sees His family, we have the same Father, we belong together.

The basic duty of children is to obey parents. We are the children of God, and so we should obey our Father the same way Jesus does, and that is to fulfil God’s will in our lives.

Saying ‘yes’ to God’s will is not easy. The Blessed Virgin Mary is the best example. She is the perfect mother of Jesus, because she does God’s will in everything, even the most difficult and most painful mission. 

Being a Jewish girl, what God asked of her at the annunciation could put her life in danger, but she said yes. And finally seeing the cruel death of her son, she did not resist nor hinder nor lament, but accepted it with faith. From the womb to the tomb of Jesus’ life, she did the will of God. From Jesus’ resurrection to her own assumption, she did the will of God.

She did not always understand the full implications of her obedience, she had to fight uncertainties, illogical situations and finally sorrowful events, yet she never once fought against God’s will.

How did Mary do it?

Faith and love. She believed His word totally and she loved His will wholeheartedly.

In our life we too face situations which we could not understand, nor explain, nor accept easily. Are we able to surrender all to God and trust His plan, His providence, His will? Can we accept that when our plans fail, His plan will work better?

Sometimes the only way God can show us He is in control is by putting us in situations we can’t control.

Let us be like Jesus and Mary, surrender all and do the will of God, our heavenly Father. Because we are the sisters and the brothers of Jesus. Amen.


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