Mary, The Model Of Ardent Obedience To God

Proverbs 21:1-6,10-13
Luke 8:19-21

The book of Proverbs essentially consists of applied moral principles . It enjoins the people to obey the law rather than just hearing it alone. But why is the moral law so important for this people when some of us consider the law as a heavy burden placed on our shoulders? Proverbs 10:6-7 says “Blessings are for the head of the just;but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. The memory of the just serves as blessing, Psalm 19:1 tells us that ‘the law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.’ Therefore, whoever desires perfection and true wisdom must seek the law of the Lord. For observing the law of the Lord is the highest good we can do for our benefit and that of one another. And until it becomes natural for us to obey the Lord’s law, we can never be able to understand ourselves and how best to relate with one another as God’s creatures. For us Christians today, the Law is perfected in the incarnation of the Word of God, who is the perfect revelation of God as His image, and the way, the truth and the life. So, ask yourself today, do you love God’s law? How do we know if we love God’s law? Remember, proverb tells us today in the first reading that; “A man’s conduct may strike him as upright,the Lord, however, weighs the heart.

How do we demonstrate our love for God’s will? Our love for the law of the Lord is demonstrated in our attitude towards His Word. When we are close to His Word, it invites us to become neighbours to our brothers and sisters, especially those who are in great need
We see ourselves and others belonging to God’s family just as sees us and addresses his audience and all of us in today’s gospel passage. Christ prioritizes his ministry above every other kind of relationship and at the high point of his preaching, he was told about the presence of his family and there stood his mother, the paradigm of true discipleship, the handmaid of the Lord, the model of perfect obedience to God. No wonder immediately mentions that ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’Luke 8:21.
In other words, Christ holds in high esteem his mother for she is model of ardent obedience to God, aptly seen in the fiat ; Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Let it be to me according to your word (Lk. 1: 38) and all through her entire life.

Today we celebrate the feast of St. Andrew Kim Taegon and Companions.  For many of us, St. Andrew is a “new” saint, canonized by Pope John Paul II.  Though new to the liturgical calendar, St. Andrew and his companions are fellow Christians that we need to know because they are powerful witnesses to living the Gospel in real life. Andrew is tied closely to the foundation of Christianity in Korea. At a time in history in the 18th century, the Christian Japanese soldiers who came into Korea baptized the first Korean Christians and the Christian community began to grow quickly.  By the time the first foreign priest arrived in Korea in 1836, there was already a substantial Christian community flourishing there.  It’s the only known Catholic Christian community that first developed completely from the witness and work of lay Christians.The rulers in Korea were not at all pleased to have this foreign religion thriving in their country.  At first, they just discouraged it but soon enough outlawed this practice and began to actively persecute anyone who took it up.  As Christians were arrested, tortured and put to death the Church quickly moved underground Andrew was the first Korean to become a priest and returned home shortly after his ordination to help organize the Church and bring the sacraments to the faithful.  He ministered in Korea only a year before he was arrested and put to death.

Through baptism, we are made members of the mystical body of Christ and by faith, we are God’s children. We truly belong to God and we are brothers and sisters in Christ; adopted sons and daughters of God. To remain in this relationship therefore, we must allow the will of God to be the food we eat, the air we breathe, the love we share and the life we live.

Fr. Joseph Osho