20140923 MARY THE MODEL OF DISCIPLESHIP: HEARING AND DOING THE WORD

20140923 MARY THE MODEL OF DISCIPLESHIP:  HEARING AND DOING THE WORD

First reading

Proverbs 21:1-6,10-13 ©

Like flowing water is the heart of the king in the hand of the Lord,

  who turns it where he pleases.

A man’s conduct may strike him as upright,

  the Lord, however, weighs the heart.

To act virtuously and with justice

  is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.

Haughty eye, proud heart,

  lamp of the wicked, nothing but sin.

The hardworking man is thoughtful, and all is gain;

  too much haste, and all that comes of it is want.

To make a fortune with the help of a lying tongue,

  such the idle fantasy of those who look for death.

The wicked man’s soul is intent on evil,

  he looks on his neighbour with dislike.

When a mocker is punished, the ignorant man grows wiser,

  when a wise man is instructed he acquires more knowledge.

The Just One watches the house of the wicked:

  he hurls the wicked to destruction.

He who shuts his ear to the poor man’s cry

  shall himself plead and not be heard.

Psalm

Psalm 118:1,27,30,34-35,44 ©

Guide me, Lord, in the path of your commands.

They are happy whose life is blameless,

  who follow God’s law!

Make me grasp the way of your precepts

  and I will muse on your wonders.

Guide me, Lord, in the path of your commands.

I have chosen the way of truth

  with your decrees before me.

Train me to observe your law,

  to keep it with my heart.

Guide me, Lord, in the path of your commands.

Guide me in the path of your commands;

  for there is my delight.

I shall always keep your law

  for ever and ever.

Guide me, Lord, in the path of your commands.

Gospel Acclamation           cf.Ps129:5

Alleluia, alleluia!

My soul is waiting for the Lord,

I count on his word.

Alleluia!

Or        Lk11:28

Alleluia, alleluia!

Happy are those

who hear the word of God

and keep it.

Alleluia!

Gospel           Luke 8:19-21 ©

The mother and the brothers of Jesus 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.’

MARY THE MODEL OF DISCIPLESHIP:  HEARING AND DOING THE WORD

SCRIPTURE READINGS: PROVERBS 21:1-6, 10-13; LUKE 8:19-21
http://www.universalis.com/20140923/mass.htm

St Luke intends today’s episode to showcase Mary as a fitting exemplar of a true disciple, that is, one who hears the Word of God and puts it into practice.   She is the model of one who hears the Word of God and bears fruit.  Jesus praised her and underscored that the greatness of Mary lies not so much in her physical motherhood but her spiritual motherhood, and because of her intimate relationship with Him in hearing the Word and acting on it.

The question therefore is:  how did Mary hear the Word?  To hear is to ponder over the Word and interiorize it.  The interiority of Mary’s life was highlighted on a few occasions in Luke’s gospel, namely, at the visit of the Magi, the prophecy of Simeon and the finding of Jesus in the temple.  In all these events and others, Mary was silent.  Although Mary is mentioned many times in the gospel stories, we hardly hear her speak.  Luke purposefully wants to present Mary as a model of contemplation.

But her contemplation is not to be misunderstood as mere introspection of oneself.  That, perhaps, is what distinguishes our introspective prayer, which too often focuses on ourselves rather than on God.  Mary’s contemplation is on God’s mercy and love, and in the light of His love, her recognition of her place before Him.

That she truly contemplates God is borne out in the fruits she bore.  St Luke underscores this important sign of a fruitful prayer by having Jesus praise her as one who not only hears the Word of God, but puts it into action.  We see this manifested in her concern for Elizabeth in her pregnancy, for the wedding couple at Cana when they ran short of wine and in her union with Jesus’ mission from the incarnation, his earthly ministry until His death on the cross.  Mary was always at the background in His ministry, quietly standing by Jesus, supporting Him in His mission.

From the above, it is therefore understandable why Jesus could have Mary identified with Him, declaring that “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice.”  Mary is so one with Jesus in her thoughts, devotion and mission.  Hence, anyone who follows Mary is truly the mother, brother and sister of Christ.

Note however, that Jesus spoke of the different levels of relationship. The depth of relationship between mother and son, or between brothers, is different.  Perhaps for this reason, He spoke of mother and brothers and in other texts, sisters even.  This indicates that there are different levels of intimacy with Jesus.

On the level of motherhood relationship, one speaks of the closest intimacy, both spiritually and emotionally, and even physically. Who knows the son better than the mother?  Such personal intimacy is possible only in the light of deep mutual intimacy through giving, nurturing and communion.  Indeed, that we can be the mother of Jesus implies that anyone who loves Him like His mother would have attained that level of maternal relationship or spiritual motherhood.  This is what St Augustine meant when he said that Mary conceived Jesus in her heart before she conceived Jesus in the flesh.

On another level of relationship, namely that of being His brothers and sisters, Jesus is speaking about our identification with His sonship.  If we are His brothers and sisters, then we are heirs with Him, as St Paul tells us in Romans 8.  But this sonship must be spelt out in terms of obedience.  This entails doing the will of God, sharing in His sufferings so as to share in His glory.  Only then, could we be considered as His brothers and sisters, since to be a son is to do the Father’s will.  Jesus is the Son of God precisely because He hears the Father and obeys Him, even unto death, freely and unreservedly.  So too, if we hear the Word of God like Jesus and put it into practice, then we can be said to be truly sons and daughters of God.

In the light of this invitation to intimacy, we are called to examine our relationship with Him.  If we want to find true happiness and grow in holiness, we must purify our relationship with God each day and our love for our fellowmen.  We should not be contented simply with doing good works without the right motives.    We must search deeper into the motives of what we do and purify our desires to serve God.  Yes, Proverbs tell us, “A man’s conduct may strike him as upright, the Lord, however, weighs the heart.”  It is not sufficient to be doing good, but we must ask whether such good work springs from the motive of love and service of God and our fellowmen.  Like Jesus and Mary, we must do everything for the love of God and for His people.

The first reading from the book of Proverbs and the responsorial psalm could be used as our guide for the examination of conscience.   Have we listened deeply and discerned how and what the Lord is asking of us?  As the psalmist prayed, “Give me discernment, that I may observe your law and keep it with all my heart.  Lead me in the path of your commands, for in it I delight.”  Jesus and Mary sought only to do God’s will even when it was difficult.  Such is the obedience of Jesus and Mary to God. Hence, we must truly pray that we will be guided in the way of the Lord’s commands.  Let our prayer be that of the psalmist, “Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands. Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous deeds.”  Only in this way will we become truly the mother and the brother of our Lord Jesus Christ, because we share in the life of Jesus, which is one of obedience and love.

Secondly, we must be sensitive to our conscience.  Yes, like the psalmist we pray, “Guide me, Lord, in the way of your commands.  Blessed are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.”   From the book of Proverbs, we must ask the Holy Spirit to enlighten us as to whether we have a wicked, revengeful, envious, proud and arrogant heart or a lying tongue.  Yes, we must act virtuously and justly, for as the book of Proverbs says, “To act virtuously and with justice is more pleasing to the Lord than sacrifice.”

Thirdly, a true hearer of the Word must be a person of compassion.  Indeed, “He who shuts his ear to the poor man’s cry shall himself plead and not be heard.”  In the final analysis, only a life of love and compassion is the clear indication that we have heard the Word of God and put it into practice.

Accordingly, we must turn to Mary as our model, for that is what Jesus is asking of us when He gave Mary to the Church, symbolized by the beloved disciple.  This act of giving Mary to John, and John to Mary, is surely the height of self-surrender. One can imagine this act of entrusting John to Mary!  Although apparently a filial act and loving concern of Jesus for His mother, yet the substitute is no real substitute.  How could John replace Jesus, her only Son who is both the Son of God and her Master?   Indeed, Mary had given up everything, including her son, Jesus, to the world; and as if that was not enough, Jesus asked her to continue this self-offering by taking care of the Church that He left behind.   We therefore must seek Mary’s guidance in our relationship with her Son since this is the will of Christ. 

WRITTEN BY THE MOST REV WILLIAM GOH


ARCHBISHOP OF SINGAPORE
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