24 January 2017
Memorial of Saint Francis de Sales, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Jesus does not renounce his family by what he says and does as is recorded in today’s Gospel. He enlarges it. At the same time, he emphasizes the greatness of his mother, who was called blessed because she believed.
The Virgin Mary accepted the invitation to become the Mother of our Savior. It was then she began doing God’s will in a heroic way. Little by little she would learn what that entailed, but never, from the stable to the Cross, would she retract the ‘yes’ she gave to the angel at the Annunciation.
So, she is able to support me by her example and prayers, especially when the ‘yes’ I once made to follow that same will of God became, and continues to become, challenging.
When I progress in fidelity to God’s will I am assured of developing into a more intimate member of God’s family. Brotherhood in Christ is made ardent by the courageous expectation of being soldered to God’s will under the inspiration of the Blessed Virgin Mary, his mother, my mother.
Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for me and all my brothers and sisters in Christ to do God’s will.