The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
The Gospel of the Lord.
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There’s a Chinese proverb that says, “Not one family can put a sign outside their home with the words: No Problems Here.”
Not one family, not even the Holy Family, is free from conflict.
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In the Gospel, for example, Jesus is preaching inside someone’s home, when all of a sudden Mary and some other family members appear wanting to speak with him.
They’re not there to ask Jesus if he’s coming home for dinner. They’re anxious and worried about his safety. They knew Jesus’ teachings could get him into trouble with the authorities, so they’ve come to protect him.
Mark’s Gospel adds a further detail, noting Jesus’ family members think, “He’s out of his mind!”
A jarring reminder that even those closest to Jesus struggle to accept who he is, both God and man.
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Not one family – not even the Holy Family – can say, “No problems here.”
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What problems am I facing at home? Or, what causes stress in my family?
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Maybe it’s finances; the stress from being quarantined; or learning and working from home. Or, like the Holy Family, maybe we struggle to accept one of our own.
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“A house divided amongst itself cannot stand,” Jesus says.
On the contrary, a house united must be built upon the solid foundation of faith, openness, love, and respect.
May the Lord expand our hearts this morning to embrace our families – and all the struggles we endure.
While we cannot say, “No problems here,” with grace we can say, “All are welcome.”
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank.
There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for my name.” So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength.
He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. All who heard him were astounded and said, “Is not this the man who in Jerusalem ravaged those who call upon this name, and came here expressly to take them back in chains to the chief priests?” But Saul grew all the stronger and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus, proving that this is the Christ.
The Word of the Lord.
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“Where have all the men gone?” a young Michael Corleone asks his bodyguard as they stroll through a quaint town in Sicily.
His bodyguard turns and says, “Sono tutti morti per le vendette.”
“They’re all dead from vendettas.”
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The Godfather is one of the most popular films in history. People, it seems, have a dark, timeless curiosity with the mafia – how it works, who wins, who loses.
And who’s next.
If you double-cross Michael Corleone, you’re dead.
There can be something sinfully satisfying about watching your enemy get what he deserves.
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In our first reading, the Lord has delivered Saul, the man who becomes the Apostle Paul, into the hands of Ananias.
If Ananias were not a devoutly Christian man, then I’m sure he’d be quick to kill Saul for all the evil he’s done, just like Michael Corleone satisfying a vendetta.
Saul has persecuted, imprisoned, even killed Christians. But the Lord invites Ananias to lay his hands over Saul’s eyes, to end his suffering, and heal him.
Then, set him free.
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Anyone can imagine how hard that must’ve been– forgiving someone who’s hated you, persecuted your faith, and ripped families apart.
But Christ can do incredible things through us when we let him, which is why Ananias’ first word to Saul was, “brother.”
Through Christ, Saul and Ananias – bitter enemies – became brothers.
Where do I need Christ to work through me? Like Ananias, maybe I need the grace to forgive; or like Saul, I need the humility to be forgiven.
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While movies like The Godfather entertain our lower selves, today’s feast reminds us that Christ can do incredible things through us like turning bitter enemies into brothers, and sinners into Saints if we let him.
After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they abandoned their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.
The Gospel of the Lord.
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Falling in love turns your world upside down.
All of a sudden, someone else holds tremendous influence – even power – over you. Everything about that person is enchanting. The way they walk, the way they talk, why they like one thing but not another.
There’s an innocence to it all.
Consider the path to marriage. There’s the first date, a period of engagement, and then the wedding day.
Even that is just the beginning. There are years, if not decades, of commitment ahead.
Love grows in stages.
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The same is true in the path of discipleship.
We don’t commit our lives to God overnight; it takes time and effort.
Often, a lifetime of effort.
Consider the life of Saint Peter.
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In the Gospel, Peter drops his nets and follows Jesus. Surely this wasn’t Peter’s first encounter with the Lord. He probably knew of Jesus, or at least heard his name spoken in town as people marveled at the beauty of his teachings.
Jesus’ popularity must’ve captivated Peter. So, on this day, when Jesus passed by, he was ready to follow him.
Maybe some of us have had that type of experience – a “conversion moment,” when we knew God was calling us into something new. So, we dropped our nets and followed him.
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If only it were that easy.
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Anyone who’s followed the Lord knows that faith is a journey – and it’s anything but a flat road or a downhill trot. There are highs and lows; twists and turns; moments of failure and moments of redemption.
For now, Peter believes bright days are ahead. Jesus, this emerging celebrity with power unlike any man in history, knows his name and personally invites Peter to follow him.
But Peter’s idealism – and his budding faith – will soon be shaken to its core.
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Shortly after dropping his nets, Peter finds himself in the middle of a storm, crying out to Jesus , “Master, do you not care that we’re drowning!” as he sinks into the Sea of Galilee.
Maybe that’s where some of us are at on our journey of faith. We’ve dropped our nets, but feel like we’re sinking, sinking, sinking.
“Master, do you not care that we’re drowning?”
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Later, Peter gets it right. He recognizes that Jesus is divine, and cries out, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!”
His doubt gives way to faith.
Then Jesus blesses him, calling him the “rock” upon whom he’ll build his Church.
Maybe some of us have reached that place in our journey. We’ve passed through stormy waters of doubt and have come to believe in Jesus as the Christ.
Like Peter, we’ll do anything to follow him.
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But this same Peter who cried out, “You are the Christ!”, soon denies ever knowing Jesus.
On the last night of his life on earth, Jesus is betrayed by a friend and arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter, curious to know what will happen, follows Jesus at a distance.
As Jesus is being led into the high priest’s court, Peter remains outside at the gates, warming his hands by a fire.
Maybe that’s some of us. We’re following Jesus comfortably at a distance. We’re interested, but not all in.
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Peter’s path of faith would seem like the stories of four different men.
The same Peter who drops his nets to follow Jesus later sinks into the Sea of Galilee.
Then he repents, proclaiming Jesus is Lord, then Peter denies Jesus again, afraid that being associated with Jesus will cost him his life.
Eventually, it does.
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Peter dies like his Master, nailed to a cross.
But feeling unworthy of leaving this world like his Lord, Peter asks his executioners one thing: to turn him upside down.
There, in the heart of Rome – in the center of worldly power – Peter sees the world like a man in love – upside down, right side up. Those hands once warmed by a fire are now spread open in surrender.
Finally, he trusts that Jesus will never let him sink. He is fully aware that as soon as he leaves this life, the Lord will welcome him joyfully into the next.
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Such depth of faith took a lifetime to develop. The key for Peter was never giving up.
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So, what about me? Where am I on my journey of faith?
Like Peter, am I ready to drop my nets? Or, am I sinking into the Sea of Galilee? Am I warming my hands by a fire? Or, have I totally surrendered myself to the Lord?
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Wherever we are, take heart. God knows faith is a life-long journey.
All that matters is one question, the final question Jesus asks Peter after the resurrection:
“Peter, do you love me?”
It’s the same question the Lord asks us: “Do you love me, even today?”
