Dearest Goddaughter (LTR-41) - Family of God

Dearest Goddaughter,

We have our families who love, care, and support us. We also have "families" who also care and support us. These "families" are the ones that Jesus speaks of today when he said: "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

I always tell engaged couples who go through Called to be One Marriage Class at Saint Albert the Great with us that they also have a parish family that they can turn to for support. If they would welcome it, then the Church can truly be a part of their sacramental life in the life of the Church. The domestic church united and grafted to the one, holy, catholic, and apostolic Church.

We live in such an individualistic society, especially in the U.S., that families are sometimes isolated from the support of their community, particularly their church community. However, just as God is a Communion of Three Persons - God, our Creator made us to be in communion with Him and with each other.

Therefore, let us recognize in each other fellow sojourners on this road of life and love our neighbors as we love God and God loves us. 

Love,

Bỏ Phúc

P.S. These are the readings for the day: 2 Sm 6:12b-15, 17-19 and Mk 3:31-35 (below).

. . .

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."