First Reading - Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20
Gospel - Luke 8:19-21
In the first reading, we see the people of Israel persevering in the rebuilding of the temple. It was a task filled with obstacles and opposition, but they did not give up. Why? Because they knew it was God’s will. Their perseverance and obedience became a testimony of faith, and in the end, the temple stood as a visible sign of God’s presence among them. They remind us that when we are faithful, even against resistance, God brings His work to completion in our lives.
In the Gospel, Jesus gives us a new and powerful vision of family. When told that His mother and relatives were outside, He responds, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” What a liberating truth! This means that anyone — no matter where they come from, no matter their past — can belong to the family of Jesus. The condition is simple but radical: to listen to God’s word and to live it out.
And here lies the challenge and the motivation for us: belonging to Christ is not passive. It calls us to active faith, to allow His word to shape our choices, our priorities, and our daily lives. We cannot be content with merely hearing; we are called to doing. Faith that is lived becomes light, becomes witness, becomes a sign of hope for the world.
Dear friends, imagine what would happen if we all lived as true members of Christ’s family. Our homes would radiate peace, our communities would be transformed by compassion, and our world would see the face of God more clearly. This is our mission — to let God’s word not just touch us but transform us, so that through us, His love may be made visible.
So let us rise with courage and embrace our identity as God’s family. Let us hear His word, live it with joy, and shine it forth in a world that desperately needs light. For when we live this way, we don’t just belong to Christ’s family — we become living temples of His presence.
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