Grafted to the Body of Christ

Sisters and brothers in Christ, today's Gospel is a reminder to us that while God has blessed us with our family - the domestic church - we are also a part of a larger family of the faithful people of God, grafted to the Body of Christ, the Church. While it can never replace or even substitute our own loving family, this larger family of the faithful people of God helps us to grow in our faith, holds us accountable in our we live out our Christian life, and supports us our times of needs.

This past Sunday, I had the blessed opportunity to see my goddaughter read for the first time at Mass, and it brought me great joy. She not only had the support of her parents and brother, her grandparents and her godparents, but her relatives, the ministry lead - Ms. Parker, Deacon Bill (who is retired), and her parish community. It was wonderful to witness how her brothers and sisters in Christ were there to lift her up in prayer and cheer her on (in silence during Mass and with congratulations and other encouraging words after Mass).

Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ wants us to know that we are never alone because we are grafted to his Body - members of the Church Militant on earth, the Church Suffering in Purgatory, and the Church Triumphant in heaven. How wonderful is that?!

. . .

Gospel of the Day

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."