25TH TUESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 8:19-21) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” (Lk 8:21)

FIRST READING - Ezr 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20

"They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel, celebrated the dedication of this house of God."

A reading from the Book of Ezra

⁷ Let the governor and the elders of the Jews continue the work on that house of God; they are to rebuild it on its former site. ⁸ I also issue this decree concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that house of God: Let these men be repaid for their expenses, in full and without delay from the royal revenue, deriving from the taxes of West-of-Euphrates, so that the work not be interrupted. ¹² And may the God who causes his name to dwell there overthrow every king or people who may undertake to alter this decree or to destroy this house of God in Jerusalem. I, Darius, have issued this decree; let it be diligently executed.” ¹⁴ The elders of the Jews continued to make progress in the building, supported by the message of the prophets, Haggai and Zechariah, son of Iddo. They finished the building according to the command of the God of Israel and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius, and of Artaxerxes, king of Persia. ¹⁵ They completed this house on the third day of the month Adar, in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. ¹⁶ The Israelites—priests, Levites, and the other returned exiles—celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy. ¹⁷ For the dedication of this house of God, they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, and four hundred lambs, together with twelve he-goats as a sin offering for all Israel, in keeping with the number of the tribes of Israel. ¹⁸ Finally, they set up the priests in their classes and the Levites in their divisions for the service of God in Jerusalem, as is prescribed in the book of Moses.

¹⁹ The returned exiles kept the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. ²⁰ The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion, sacrificed the Passover for all the exiles, for their colleagues the priests, and for themselves.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - Lk 8:19-21

"My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it."

✠From the Gospel according to Luke

⁹ Then his mother and his brothers^[a] came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. ²⁰ He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” ²¹ He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”^[b]

25TH TUESDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Luke 8:19-21)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God in today's Gospel, God wants to tell everyone that: The Word of God is very noble, it must be placed above all things! And when people practice according to God's commandments, that is what pleases God.

Jesus came to earth to form one united family, a family living in the grace of God, that is: knowing how to live and practice according to His commandments. Because Jesus came to earth as a human to bring love and bring the Word of God the Father to teach people. Jesus is the only mediator between God and mankind. And through the teachings of Jesus, those who practice them will be granted happiness with God the Father in His Kingdom.

Today’s Word of God recounts that Mother Mary and Jesus' brothers came to see Him while He was teaching in the crowd; someone said to Him. "'Your mother and your brothers have come to see You." He replied, "My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice."

Through these words, Jesus wanted to honor Mother Mary and all those who live and practice the Word of God, are truly His mother and brothers. God wants to exalt the act of living and practicing the Word of God above all else, for only the Word of God is the only Word that will bring eternal life to people — that is the life of the Kingdom of Heaven in the future. Whoever is wise should live and practice according to the teachings of God, and live according to the example of Mother Mary in the past: who obeyed God absolutely when she said yes to God: “Yes, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me as the angel said”

Through Mother Mary's "yes" combined with the Word of God today, God invites everyone:

• Above all, everyone is called to obey, live by, and put into practice the teachings of God.

• Always place God above everything, for wherever God is present, there is life, peace, and eternal happiness.

• Do not live in a way that deviates from God's teachings, for whoever strays from God's ways leads to eternal death.

God infinitely loves and calls everyone: to obey God the Father absolutely in all places and at all times. We are called to live and practice according to God's teachings—which is to have charity, love, and respect for God above all things, and loving others as ourselves.

Whoever lives in this way will have the peace, happiness, and love of God dwelling within their very soul.

Thanks be to God. Amen.