Luke 8:19-21

Then his mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Opening Prayer: Lord Jesus, I love you and I thank you for calling me to the spiritual family of the church. I trust in you and I believe that you are my good and provident Father. As I reflect on your words, I humbly ask for the grace to see all as my brothers and sisters in the faith and to love them as members of my own family. 

Encountering Christ:

1. The Father: Jesus was attentive to God the Father’s will and fulfilled it perfectly. And Jesus told us that those “who hear the word of God and act on it” become his family members. We are as important to Jesus as his own mother, his flesh and blood. In fact, he loves us so much he willingly died to save us from our sins. How grateful are we to God for our status as adopted sons and daughters?

2. The Family of the Church: At a papal audience in Rome, a World Youth Day, or similar event, participants often experience the church’s vibrancy and diversity. Being in the presence of hundreds or thousands of fellow believers gives the sensation of belonging to a huge family. It is peaceful, energizing, and strengthening. It helps us remember that when we are weak, we are supported spiritually by many others. When we are strong, we offer support to many others. “For as in one body we have many parts, and all the parts do not have the same function, so we, though many, are one body in Christ and individually parts of one another” (Romans 12:4-5).

3. Family Inheritance: Family members share a common inheritance. As family members of the church, we have been promised eternal life with God in heaven. The saints, our brothers and sisters who have gone before us, have this to say about heaven: “Today I was in heaven, in spirit, and I saw its inconceivable beauties and the happiness that awaits us after death. I saw how all creatures give ceaseless praise and glory to God...This source of happiness is unchanging in its essence, but it is always new, gushing forth happiness for all creatures” (Sister Faustina). “There, good will shall be so ordered in us that we shall have no other desire than to remain there eternally” (St. Augustine). “My crown in heaven should shine with innocence and its flowers should be radiant as the sun. Sacrifices are the flowers Jesus and Mary chose” (St. Bernadette Soubirous). “Earth hath no sorrow that heaven cannot heal” (St. Thomas More).

Conversing with Christ: Lord, thank you for calling me to the church's family. Increase my awareness of the spiritual bond I share with fellow believers, and may my actions reflect your love. Help me to prepare myself one day for eternity with you and the rest of my family.

Resolution: Lord, today, by your grace, I will reach out to a member of my faith community in whichever way I feel you inviting me to do so. 

For Further Reflection: This blog by Sophie Lorenzo reflects on the mystical body of Christ in everyday circumstances: https://www.catholicapostolatecenter.org/blog/one-body-many-parts.