Tuesday of the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19; Mark 3:31-35 

The readings today focus on the importance of the Word of God. It is not just the spoken or proclaimed Word that is experienced in the Mass but it has to find its home in the heart of every person. As Jesus finds a home in the cold and silent night of Bethlehem, so He has to find His home in us. We imitate Mary who made her heart and her soul the home of Jesus first before He found His home in her womb. Benedict XVI said: “Here we see how completely at home Mary is with the word of God, with ease she moves in and out of it. She speaks and thinks with the word of God; the word of God becomes her word, and her word issues from the word of God. Here we see how her thoughts are attuned to the thoughts of God, how her will is one with the will of God.” (VD 28) What will do to make the Word work as a blessing to our life.

1. Evangelical Transcendence. The first thing is to desire for the Word to work in us especially in our daily vulnerable situations. We easily fail and we become discouraged, we are easily hurt, wounded, and lose hope. These are examples of human failures and shortcomings. Yet, we desire to be whole and well again. We recall the Gospel today, Jesus entered the house and people came to listen to Him. He came to bring the Word to the Home and sanctify the family with the Word He speaks. In Christ, the true identity of the family surfaces. The Word of God leads us to transcend our failures and painful moments as individuals and as a family.  John Paul II said: “By proclaiming the word of God, the Church reveals to the Christian family its true identity, what it is and should be according to the Lord’s plan…” Let us allow ourselves to transcend by the power of the Word of God.

2. Welcoming the Word of God. The Lord thirsts for the response we should have after He takes the initiative to reveal to us. Jesus enters the family, to bring the Word that has to find its home in the family. David, in the first reading today, brought the Word into a particular home, and it was the Ark of the Covenant. When the Word found its home in the Ark, David danced with joy. John Paul II said: “As a sharer in the life and mission of the Church, which listens to the word of God with reverence and proclaims it confidently the Christian family fulfills its prophetic role by welcoming and announcing the word of God: it thus becomes more and more each day a believing and evangelizing community.”

3. Deeper Relationship. Mary and the “brothers” of Jesus suffered the pains after Jesus was labeled as “being out of his mind.” Upon hearing this, they looked for Jesus. It was painful for a Mother to hear negative comments about her son. But the act of looking for Jesus, and upon finding Him, she began to listen to the Good News.  In moments of pain suffering, the Word of God would be the source of joy and consolation. Pope Francis said: “In this brief review, we can see that the word of God is not a series of abstract ideas but rather a source of comfort and companionship for every family that experiences difficulties or suffering.”