The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today challenge us to examine how our understanding of who we accept as a sibling aligns with Jesus' love and inclusion.
The reading from the Book of Proverbs uses the image of chasing a bubble over deadly snares to describe some of the ways we exert influence.
* [21:1] “Channeled water” in Is 32:2 and Prv 5:16 is water that fertilizes arid land. It takes great skill to direct water, whether it be water to fertilize fields or cosmic floods harnessed at creation, for water is powerful and seems to have a mind of its own. It also requires great skill to direct the heart of a king, for it is inscrutable and beyond ordinary human control.
* [21:3] External rites or sacrifices do not please God unless accompanied by internal worship and right moral conduct; cf. 15:8; 21:27; Is 1:11–15; Am 5:22; Mal 1:12.
* [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.
* [21:5] The antitheses are diligent and impetuous. The metaphor characterizing each type is taken from the world of commerce. Planning is important; bustle leads to waste.
* [21:12] It is difficult to ascertain the subject of the saying. Some hold it is the Lord, the “Righteous One,” who is normally the executor of justice in Proverbs. Others believe it is the just person who is the agent of divine justice. “Righteous One” is a title for God in Is 24:16. The best argument for making God the subject of the verb is that elsewhere in Proverbs righteous human beings never do anything to the wicked; only God does. (Proverbs, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 119 praises God for giving such splendid laws and instruction for people to live by.
* [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. (Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB, n.d.)
The Gospel of Luke presents the essence of Jesus and His Family.
* [8:19] His brothers: see note on Mk 6:3.
* [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. (Luke, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rev. John Shea, SJ, comments that Jesus is expanding our notion of who belongs in the family of God: “those who hear the word of God and act upon it.”
This challenges all of us. Suddenly, family isn’t just my immediate family or even my extended family. It includes all believers. Even if we don’t enjoy a healthy relationship with our biological family, we know how we ought to behave towards a family member. Parents ought to provide unconditional love to their children. Siblings ought to love and support each other. I’m sure you, like me, fall short of this ideal with your families. So, we shouldn’t be surprised when we fail to extend the same love and compassion to our brothers and sisters in the Lord. If we fail to love our children (the unborn and the born, including victims of child trafficking and those held in detention centers) then how can we love the poor, the immigrant and the refugee? By expanding our concept of family, Jesus makes it far more difficult to place family first. (Shea, n.d.)
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) (Schwager, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that the passage from Proverbs is a collection of wisdom sayings that are how to live a good life by being humble, seeking the Lord and giving to the poor. In later chapters of Proverbs the lesson is more spiritual but here there are simply lessons for leaders. In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus identifies His Mother and brothers. In Jesus' community people related as cousins were treated as brothers. (Roman Catholic tradition). If Mary had remarried, Jesus could be referring to half brothers (Orthodox tradition). Some Protestant communities accept Mary had additional children. (full brothers and sisters) The ancient tradition supports one child of Mary. Other Gospel accounts are less ambiguous. Friar Jude comments that Mary surrendered to the Word and she fills the role of Mother of Jesus spiritually.
The Word Among Us Meditation on Meditation on Luke 8:19-21 comments that Jesus honored his family and cared for his mother, even from the cross (John 19:25-26). But he also knew that he had come to create a new, wider family built on obedience to his word and the power of the Holy Spirit.
You are part of that family! You entered it through faith in Jesus’ word and the gift of the Holy Spirit at Baptism. You are now a son or daughter of God! You honor and deepen that relationship as you continue to hear and act on Jesus’ words, especially as you love your brothers and sisters. In fact, your bond with Jesus and the people who belong to him can become as strong as the closest family bond—and it will last through eternity. What a privilege it is to belong to the Lord and one another as members of his spiritual family!
“Thank you, Lord, for bringing me into your family!” (Meditation on Luke 8:19-21, n.d.)
Father Richard Rohr, OFM, introduces Palestinian Quaker Jean Zaru who bears witness to her commitment to nonviolent resistance. She writes of the ongoing commitment necessary to live out nonviolent struggle for justice.
I believe that we are called to conversion: to be converted to the struggle of women and men everywhere who have no way to escape the unending fatigue of their labor and the daily denial of their human rights and human worth. We must be converted, so to speak, to a new vision of human dignity, what we call “that of God” in each person, even in those we oppose….
Ultimately, I have learned that the nonviolent struggle for justice is one struggle, and that action to subvert violence and strengthen human rights in one place is an action on behalf of all people everywhere.
I have managed to find peace within—without having to embrace with approval the violence around me. Love of one’s enemies forces me to recognize that my enemy, too, is a child of God. This realization is necessary if our enemies are ever to make the changes we are requiring of them. It is really only in the light of love that I am liberated to work for peace and freedom.
We need to invoke the Spirit to fill our hearts and minds and enkindle the fire of love that recognizes our siblings are all people, as we all are children of God.
References
Luke, CHAPTER 8 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/8?
Meditation on Luke 8:19-21. (n.d.). Word Among Us. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://wau.org/meditations/2026/09/22/1674423/
Proverbs, CHAPTER 21 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings, Audio and Video Every Morning | USCCB. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/proverbs/21?1
Psalms, PSALM 119 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Bible Readings. Retrieved June 22, 2026, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/119?1
Rohr, R. (n.d.). Loyalty to Christ’s Peace. Center for Action and Contemplation. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/loyalty-to-christs-peace/
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Hear the Word of God and Do It. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/
Shea, J. (n.d.). Daily Reflection. Creighton Online Ministries: Home. Retrieved September 22, 2026, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/daily-reflections/daily-reflection-september-22-2026
