Reading of the Word of God

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The Spirit of the Lord is upon you.
The child you shall bear will be holy.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Luke 8,19-21

His mother and his brothers came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, 'Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.' But he said in answer, 'My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.'

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

Look down, O Lord, on your servants.
Be it unto us according to your word.

Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia

The evangelist Luke poses this episode immediately after the parable of the Sower and of the lamp which must make light. This is not random. He wants, in fact, to highlight the centrality of listening to the Word of God in the life of the Church and of every Christian community. Jesus' family is composed of whoever listens to him and tries to put in practice his word. We could say that it is an alternative family, not in the sense of opposing blood bonds but that which poses at the base of all bonds, the very bond with Jesus which renders all of the others stronger and more solid. Luke narrates that Jesus' relatives stay "outside" while those who are listening to the Teacher are "inside." Obviously, this is not only a spatial note. There is a watershed that divides those who are outside, that is those who do not listen, and those who are inside, that is those who listen. Alerted of the presence of relatives, Jesus responds that his true family is made up of those that are inside, next to him to listen. To be a part of this family requires listening to the Gospel and the commitment to put it into practice. The mother of Jesus, Mary, is an example for everyone. She was the first to believe in the Word of God, communicated to her by the angel, as Luke remembers: "Let it be done to me according to your word." There is not at all any scorn for family bonds. Just the opposite; the presence of May shows that faith-which she had for her son-enriches the bonds of the family. Knowing Mary's faith, Elizabeth pronounces upon her the first beatitude of the Gospel, "Blessed are you who have believed in the fulfilment of what the Lord told to you."