The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today offer ancient wisdom that invites us to ponder the merits of living as people who hear the Word of God and act on it.
Brothers and sisters
The reading from the Book of Proverbs of wisdom sayings includes “If you close your ear to the cry of the poor, you will cry out and not be heard.”
* [21:4] Heart and eyes depict, respectively, the inner and the outer person. “Haughty eyes” peering out from a “proud heart” show a thoroughly arrogant person. How can such a person flourish! Their lamp, which signifies life, will go out.1
Psalm 119 praises the glories of God’s Law.
* [Psalm 119] This Psalm, the longest by far in the Psalter, praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by. The author glorifies and thanks God for the Torah, prays for protection from sinners enraged by others’ fidelity to the law, laments the cost of obedience, delights in the law’s consolations, begs for wisdom to understand the precepts, and asks for the rewards of keeping them.2
The Gospel of Luke invites us to consider the true kindred of Jesus.
* [8:21] The family of Jesus is not constituted by physical relationship with him but by obedience to the word of God. In this, Luke agrees with the Marcan parallel (Mk 3:31–35), although by omitting Mk 3:33 and especially Mk 3:20–21 Luke has softened the Marcan picture of Jesus’ natural family. Probably he did this because Mary has already been presented in Lk 1:38 as the obedient handmaid of the Lord who fulfills the requirement for belonging to the eschatological family of Jesus; cf. also Lk 11:27–28.3
Michael Kavan comments the final saying in today’s reading from Proverbs seems most relevant to our times: “He who shuts his ear to the cry of the poor will himself also call and not be heard.”
We live in troubling times with the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and the seeds of division thrown by those who should unite. Easy to get discouraged and just shut others and their opinions out. Easy to think, “It’s about me, not we.” Yes, easy, but not right. We are reminded of the importance of hearing, of listening, of understanding those in need. This is a time in which we need to get beyond the narcissism and focus on understanding those who are suffering. Once we empathize with those who are suffering, what next? Our second reading from Luke provides insight. Jesus is in a crowd when he is told that his mother and brothers are outside and trying to see him. He responds by saying, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Now, Jesus is not negating the importance of his family, but instead Is likely emphasizing a new set of relationships found in Christ. The basis of these relationships is hearing God’s words and taking action on them. Those who do so are his family. So, we not only hear the cry of the poor, but we do something about it. What we do is up to us, but I have to believe it means more than just reflecting on the suffering of the poor. It means doing things to alleviate the suffering. It means taking action that is “right and just.”4
Don Schwager quotes “Those who listen and obey God's word become true children of God,” by Cyril of Alexandria (376-444 AD).
"The present lesson teaches us that obedience and listening to God are the causes of every blessing. Some entered and spoke respectfully about Christ's holy mother and his brothers. He answered in these words, 'My mother and my brothers are they who hear the word of God and do it.' Now do not let any one imagine that Christ scorned the honor due to his mother or contemptuously disregarded the love owed to his brothers. He spoke the law by Moses and clearly said, 'Honor your father and your mother, that it may be well with you' (Deuteronomy 5:16). How, I ask, could he have rejected the love due to brothers, who even commanded us to love not merely our brothers but also those who are enemies to us? He says, 'Love your enemies' (Matthew 5:44). "What does Christ want to teach? His object is to exalt highly his love toward those who are willing to bow the neck to his commands. I will explain the way he does this. The greatest honors and the most complete affection are what we all owe to our mothers and brothers. If he says that they who hear his word and do it are his mother and brothers, is it not plain to every one that he bestows on those who follow him a love thorough and worthy of their acceptance? He would make them readily embrace the desire of yielding themselves to his words and of submitting their mind to his yoke, by means of a complete obedience." (excerpt from COMMENTARY ON LUKE, HOMILY 42)5
The Word Among Us Meditation on Luke 8:19-21 notes that Jesus was pointing to a bigger truth. Blood relationship did not entitle them to special privileges. It must have surprised his family when he did not come out to meet them. But he wasn’t rejecting them. Rather than narrowing or shutting his family circle, Jesus was expanding it. He was bringing everyone who hears and obeys God’s voice into his family.
You are a treasured member of Jesus’ family. As you listen to his word and let it sink into your heart and mind, you can sense his closeness. In your actions—whether serving your family or the needy or offering forgiveness or encouragement—you can see his face in those you care for. The more time you spend with Jesus and the more you follow his way, the closer you’ll feel to him. Just like family.6
Friar Jude Winkler reviews the basic wisdom of Proverbs on how to live a good life. The Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox understanding of Jesus brothers and sisters differ. Friar Jude reminds us of the “yes” of Mary that clearly demonstrates her acting on the Word of God.
Fr. Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces friend, author and spiritual teacher Mirabai Starr who offers a compelling invitation to engage in the work of interspirituality.
The sacred scriptures of all faiths call us to love as we have never loved before. This requires effort, vigilance, and radical humility. Violence is easier than nonviolence, yet hate only perpetuates hate. The wisdom teachings remind us that love—active, engaged, fearless love—is the only way to save ourselves and each other from the firestorm of war that rages around us. There is a renewed urgency to this task now. We are asked not only to tolerate the other, but also to actively engage the love that transmutes the lead of ignorance and hatred into the gold of authentic connection. This is the “narrow gate” Christ speaks of in the Gospels [Matthew 7:13]. Don’t come this way unless you’re willing to stretch, bend, and transform for the sake of love.7
We strive to hear the Word of God and act on it with the Wisdom we receive from the Spirit.
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