The Broken Ones

Today’s gospel can be broken down into four bullet points:

Seek     Find    Give     Receive

We are on a journey toward wholeness. The elixir of life beacons us from deep within. We crave fulfillment. We are heirs to the Kingdom, but the secret to finding our inheritance seems to be an unsolvable mystery until we realize that the mystery is a person: Jesus. Once we discover this not so buried, not so hard to find treasure, we begin changing our lives in order to possess it. The gospel says, “out of JOY (he/she) goes and sells all that he/she has and buys that field.” Joy is the first fruit of knowing Jesus and we must change everything in order to have Him at the center of our lives. It says when the treasure was found, the person hid it again, then sold all to buy the new hiding place. Our relationship with Christ is our own buried treasure in the field of our souls. This field has been purchased at the highest price by the very treasure itself and in order to receive its riches, we must give all to its keeping. 

There are many moments in our lives when we know that we know that we know: Our closest moments to Christ, our epiphanies, our “ah ha” moments, our times of awe and wonder, our witness of miracles, our breath taking experiences, our surges of the heart, our falling in love, our answered prayers, our it is well with our soul moments…these are the pearl of great price and these are the spoils of our treasure found. I hope that we can all find time to ponder our spoils with joy, thanksgiving, and sheer wonder. 

The other day at work, one of my co-workers stopped me after a particularly challenging day in memory care. A few of our sweethearts were having a bad day and tension was high. She just wanted to thank me for, and I quote, “Loving all of our ‘broken ones.’” She said that every time I walk onto the floor I go directly for those that are on the margins, those that are more challenging, and those that are harder to love, and she and the other staff members feel the relief the moment I am there. Of course this took me aback because this kind of affirmation was not this co-worker’s default setting, however, it reminded me of my “Jennifer Server” calling and yes, the “broken ones” are my pearls of greatest price. I will sell what I have, and give all that I am to hold these treasures as my own. 

We have the elixir of true life, the living water of eternity, the answer to all if we take the time to open it buried deep within the field of our soul. It has been purchased for us and now we must give all that we have to enjoy it. I pray that today you celebrate your inheritance with great joy. It is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest
Lectionary: 403

Reading 1 EX 34:29-35

As Moses came down from Mount Sinai
with the two tablets of the commandments in his hands,
he did not know that the skin of his face had become radiant
while he conversed with the LORD.
When Aaron, then, and the other children of Israel saw Moses
and noticed how radiant the skin of his face had become,
they were afraid to come near him.
Only after Moses called to them did Aaron
and all the rulers of the community come back to him.
Moses then spoke to them.
Later on, all the children of Israel came up to him,
and he enjoined on them all that the LORD
had told him on Mount Sinai.
When he finished speaking with them,
he put a veil over his face.
Whenever Moses entered the presence of the LORD to converse with him,
he removed the veil until he came out again.
On coming out, he would tell the children of Israel
all that had been commanded.
Then the children of Israel would see
that the skin of Moses' face was radiant;
so he would again put the veil over his face
until he went in to converse with the LORD.

Responsorial Psalm PS 99:5, 6, 7, 9

R.(see 9c) Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his footstool;
holy is he!
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
and Samuel, among those who called upon his name;
they called upon the LORD, and he answered them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
From the pillar of cloud he spoke to them;
they heard his decrees and the law he gave them.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.
Extol the LORD, our God,
and worship at his holy mountain;
for holy is the LORD, our God.
R. Holy is the Lord our God.

Alleluia JN 15:15B

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I call you my friends, says the Lord,
for I have made known to you all that the Father has told me.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 13:44-46

Jesus said to his disciples:
"The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field,
which a person finds and hides again,
and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant
searching for fine pearls.
When he finds a pearl of great price,
he goes and sells all that he has and buys it."

God Covers All

Today’s gospel is a sobering reminder that the presence of evil is always among us. Side by side, good and evil, exist and grow. It is the theme of super hero movies, great novels, and epic poetry. The existence of one gives the other its purpose. Does that make sense? Free will is the gift given to us to choose the good or to choose the bad. God wants us to freely choose good, of course, but when sin entered the scene (through the enemy), the battle began and continues. The parable says, “The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘an enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest.’” I know that we, the “righteous”, want to rid the world of all the jerks, the rude, the ugly, the hateful, the more sinful than we, but today’s gospel tells us that we are not qualified nor called to this task. That is reserved for God and our only care is to grow. When we grow in the presence of God, that presence will change the atmosphere that we occupy and perhaps the weeds around us will be transformed by the change in atmosphere. Jesus does the saving and when we live from God, we will be the signs that point others to the Savior. It occurred to me that both the wheat and the weeds are covered in the same sunlight and rooted in the same soil. God covers all and God can make all things good and beautiful as well. If we uproot the weeds, we uproot their chance at becoming beautiful, useful, and good. 

So let’s let God be God and He will continue shining on all with the hope and the desire that all will make it to the harvest. Let’s not forget that sunflowers and dandelions and daisies and wildflowers are weeds. God’s mercy allows even the weeds to be redeemed. It is well with my soul. 

Reading 1 EX 33:7-11; 34:5B-9, 28

The tent, which was called the meeting tent,
Moses used to pitch at some distance away, outside the camp.
Anyone who wished to consult the LORD
would go to this meeting tent outside the camp.
Whenever Moses went out to the tent, the people would all rise
and stand at the entrance of their own tents,
watching Moses until he entered the tent.
As Moses entered the tent, the column of cloud would come down
and stand at its entrance while the LORD spoke with Moses.
On seeing the column of cloud stand at the entrance of the tent,
all the people would rise and worship
at the entrance of their own tents.
The LORD used to speak to Moses face to face,
as one man speaks to another.
Moses would then return to the camp,
but his young assistant, Joshua, son of Nun,
would not move out of the tent.

Moses stood there with the LORD and proclaimed his name, "LORD."
Thus the LORD passed before him and cried out,
"The LORD, the LORD, a merciful and gracious God,
slow to anger and rich in kindness and fidelity,
continuing his kindness for a thousand generations,
and forgiving wickedness and crime and sin;
yet not declaring the guilty guiltless,
but punishing children and grandchildren
to the third and fourth generation for their fathers' wickedness!"
Moses at once bowed down to the ground in worship.
Then he said, "If I find favor with you, O LORD,
do come along in our company.
This is indeed a stiff-necked people;
yet pardon our wickedness and sins,
and receive us as your own."

So Moses stayed there with the LORD for forty days and forty nights,
without eating any food or drinking any water,
and he wrote on the tablets the words of the covenant,
the ten commandments.

Responsorial Psalm PS 103:6-7, 8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R.(8a) The Lord is kind and merciful.
The LORD secures justice
and the rights of all the oppressed.
He has made known his ways to Moses,
and his deeds to the children of Israel.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Merciful and gracious is the LORD,
slow to anger and abounding in kindness.
He will not always chide,
nor does he keep his wrath forever.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
Not according to our sins does he deal with us,
nor does he requite us according to our crimes.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.
As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him.
R. The Lord is kind and merciful.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 13:36-43

Jesus dismissed the crowds and went into the house.
His disciples approached him and said,
"Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field."
He said in reply, "He who sows good seed is the Son of Man,
the field is the world, the good seed the children of the Kingdom.
The weeds are the children of the Evil One,
and the enemy who sows them is the Devil.
The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.
Just as weeds are collected and burned up with fire,
so will it be at the end of the age.
The Son of Man will send his angels,
and they will collect out of his Kingdom
all who cause others to sin and all evildoers.
They will throw them into the fiery furnace,
where there will be wailing and grinding of teeth.
Then the righteous will shine like the sun
in the Kingdom of their Father.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."

Grandparents Day

Today is the feast of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of Mary, and Grandparents of Jesus! How fun is that? St. Anne is one of my Dad’s favorites because he just loves the idea of Jesus having a Grandma. So let’s play along with this whimsical pondering. We all know that a Grandma’s main role is to spoil the grandchildren and so I’m wondering what this very special Jewish Grandma and her literally perfect Grandson had worked out in the ways of extravagant spoiling. I mean how does one spoil the King of the Universe? Perhaps she did the same kinds of things that our Grandmas do: cooking our favorite meals, sneaking us treats, wet grandma kisses, money in our birthday cards, letting us break the rules, and of course whatever we want at Christmas!! I once saw a coffee mug that read, “You’re not the boss of me! You’re not my grandchild!” Uh huh, we know the deal. Jesus was part of a family and I have always been fascinated and delighted by this fact. Why? Because it helps me draw closer to him and the closer I am to him, the more I am able to welcome him into my world including my mess. 

Today’s gospel is the explanation of the parable of the Sower And The Seed. Yesterday I wrote, “Good soil is not the absence of bad stuff, but the presence of Jesus himself, and all I have to do is allow for his presence.” Somehow connecting to Jesus’ world, such as his best friends, Apostles, and family members, deepens my love and understanding of him. Depth provides space for him to dwell, to possess, to captivate, and to grow. Depth leaves room for him to come and stay. Depth allows for filling. Depth opens. Depth welcomes depth. It is well with my soul. 

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Lectionary: 399

Reading 1EX 20:1-17

In those days:
God delivered all these commandments:

"I, the LORD, am your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery.
You shall not have other gods besides me.
You shall not carve idols for yourselves
in the shape of anything in the sky above
or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth;
you shall not bow down before them or worship them.
For I, the LORD, your God, am a jealous God,
inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness
on the children of those who hate me,
down to the third and fourth generation;
but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation
on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments.

"You shall not take the name of the LORD, your God, in vain.
For the LORD will not leave unpunished
him who takes his name in vain.

"Remember to keep holy the sabbath day.
Six days you may labor and do all your work,
but the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD, your God.
No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter,
or your male or female slave, or your beast,
or by the alien who lives with you.
In six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth,
the sea and all that is in them;
but on the seventh day he rested.
That is why the LORD has blessed the sabbath day and made it holy.

"Honor your father and your mother,
that you may have a long life in the land
which the LORD, your God, is giving you.

"You shall not kill.

"You shall not commit adultery.

"You shall not steal.

"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

"You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
You shall not covet your neighbor's wife,
nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass,
nor anything else that belongs to him."

Responsorial Psalm PS 19:8, 9, 10, 11

R.(John 6:68c) Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
refreshing the soul;
The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,
giving wisdom to the simple.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
The command of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eye.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
The ordinances of the LORD are true,
all of them just.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.
They are more precious than gold,
than a heap of purest gold;
Sweeter also than syrup
or honey from the comb.
R. Lord, you have the words of everlasting life.

Alleluia SEE LK 8:15

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Blessed are they who have kept the word with a generous heart
and yield a harvest through perseverance.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 13:18-23

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Hear the parable of the sower.
The seed sown on the path is the one who hears the word of the Kingdom
without understanding it,
and the Evil One comes and steals away
what was sown in his heart.
The seed sown on rocky ground
is the one who hears the word and receives it at once with joy.
But he has no root and lasts only for a time.
When some tribulation or persecution comes because of the word,
he immediately falls away.
The seed sown among thorns is the one who hears the word,
but then worldly anxiety and the lure of riches choke the word
and it bears no fruit.
But the seed sown on rich soil
is the one who hears the word and understands it,
who indeed bears fruit and yields a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold."

To Walk The Walk

Today is the feast of the Apostle St. James, and as a pilgrim who has walked the Camino de Santiago; this day holds a special place in my heart. I don’t know at which point, but at some very poignant point on my walk, I had the astounding realization that I was walking hundreds of miles toward the tomb of one of Jesus’ three closest friends. I mean I knew that from the beginning, obviously, but it hit me in a very profound way after miles and miles of walking, and as I started to reflect on the life of St. James, today’s gospel came to mind. To me it is one of the most telling stories because it speaks to that place in each of us that wants to be on top, that wants more, that wants what the other has, and that wants the very best. Wanting more is not a bad thing, but when our pride takes the lead, or jealously, or envy, or covetousness, then we are treading on dangerous waters. The big three, Peter, James, and John, teach us how to keep these dangerous human tendencies in check, and each one of their own “come to Jesus” stories is compelling, giving us much hope for ourselves. Walking with Jesus is a lifelong journey and sometimes we need to learn from those that were closest to him, like his Apostles and his Mom. 

Today we see the fire that burns within James and John, “‘Can you drink the chalice I am going to drink?’ They replied, ‘We can.’” They simply wanted to please him and to be “all in” for him. Raise your hand if you want to please God and be “all in.” Every meaningful endeavor has a cost. Jesus knew this was a crucial moment for him to teach the gift of servant leadership to his fired up best friends. Sitting at his side might not be exactly what you think it means. “Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave. Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” When we walk alongside him, we choose to enter into service of one another. When I looked up the word “ransom” some very powerful words came up: redeem, rescue, exchange, release, set free, deliver, restore, and liberate. If we are to walk in the footsteps of those that set the path before us, we are to be willing to exchange our lives for the restoration of others. We are not saviors, for there is only one Savior, however, to drink from the same chalice, is to drink a life of sacrifice for the other. Even the Apostles couldn’t muster this kind of virtue until the Holy Spirit entered the scene at Pentecost, but the good news is that we have that same exact Holy Spirit living within each of us, and so we have all that we need to walk the walk. 

Let’s be captivated by today’s teaching moment and remember the humility that is required to follow Jesus. Reaching the tomb of St. James was a very emotional experience for me. I remember being consumed with gratitude for the tremendous courage that it took for James to go from wanting to sit at the right or left hand of Jesus in the kingdom, to laying down his life for that kingdom. I remember standing at his tomb and contemplating that James knows what Jesus’ laugh sounds like, he knows how Jesus sings the Psalms, he knows his favorite food, he knows his favorite prayer, he knows his daily routines, he knows the cries of his heart, he knows how the atmosphere changes in Jesus’ presence, he knows Jesus’ relationship with Mary, he has seen Jesus cry, and he knows Jesus the way I want to know Jesus. It is well with my soul.   

Feast of Saint James, Apostle
Lectionary: 605

Reading 1 2 COR 4:7-15

Brothers and sisters:
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being given up to death
for the sake of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,
we too believe and therefore speak, 
knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus
and place us with you in his presence.
Everything indeed is for you,
so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people
may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

Responsorial Psalm PS 126:1BC-2AB, 2CD-3, 4-5, 6

R.(5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing. 
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those that sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing.
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves. 
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Alleluia SEE JN 15:16

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
I chose you from the world,
to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 20:20-28

The mother of the sons of Zebedee approached Jesus with her sons
and did him homage, wishing to ask him for something.
He said to her,
"What do you wish?"
She answered him,
"Command that these two sons of mine sit,
one at your right and the other at your left, in your Kingdom."
Jesus said in reply,
"You do not know what you are asking.
Can you drink the chalice that I am going to drink?"
They said to him, "We can."
He replied,
"My chalice you will indeed drink,
but to sit at my right and at my left, this is not mine to give
but is for those for whom it has been prepared by my Father."
When the ten heard this,
they became indignant at the two brothers.
But Jesus summoned them and said,
"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them,
and the great ones make their authority over them felt.
But it shall not be so among you.
Rather, whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant;
whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.
Just so, the Son of Man did not come to be served
but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many."

Good Soil

I always find it a challenge to find a fresh word in those gospels that we tend to know by heart, like today’s Sower And The Seed.I don’t know why I feel like I need to find something new, but I’m hoping it comes from a place of always wanting to grow in wisdom, knowledge and understanding. One word hit me today as I was reading this familiar story: Fall. It struck me that the seeds had to fall and after falling, they simply remained where they fell. The condition of the place of their falling became the main character in the story. The ground was either inhospitable or sort of hospitable or just right for the seed to germinate and grow. The soil was not just an inanimate lifeless random piece of the story, but a dynamic part of the relationship between the seed and the fruit it produced. Seeds planted must crack open in order to sprout and the condition of the soil plays a huge part in that cracking open. There is something in the falling, cracking, and depending on the hospitality of the soil that tugs at my heart this morning. Jesus took the fall, was cracked open, and is waiting for my hospitality through an intimate relationship to grow in me a hundred fold. 

I used to think that this story was a one-time event and that the sower tossed the seed once and if your soil was not the “good soil” yet, bummer. Jesus falls upon us every day and we have the opportunity to host him or not. We have the opportunity to let the birds and the voices of the world eat him up, or to be shallow so he can’t thrive, or to let the thorns of sin in our side choke him out, or we can simply let him fall into depth of our soul where his very Spirit dwells and as he falls there we just allow him to rise up. Good soil is not the absence of bad stuff, but the presence of Jesus himself, and all I have to do is allow for his presence. New grace falls on us in perfect supply for each day. What do I need to do today to catch that falling? How can I be the most hospitable host for his presence today? What fruit does he want to make with me today? It is well with my soil. 

Reading 1 EX 16:1-5, 9-15

The children of Israel set out from Elim, 
and came into the desert of Sin,
which is between Elim and Sinai,
on the fifteenth day of the second month
after their departure from the land of Egypt.
Here in the desert the whole assembly of the children of Israel
grumbled against Moses and Aaron.
The children of Israel said to them,
"Would that we had died at the LORD's hand in the land of Egypt,
as we sat by our fleshpots and ate our fill of bread!
But you had to lead us into this desert
to make the whole community die of famine!"

Then the LORD said to Moses,
"I will now rain down bread from heaven for you.
Each day the people are to go out and gather their daily portion;
thus will I test them,
to see whether they follow my instructions or not.
On the sixth day, however, when they prepare what they bring in,
let it be twice as much as they gather on the other days."

Then Moses said to Aaron, "Tell the whole congregation 
of the children of Israel:
Present yourselves before the LORD,
for he has heard your grumbling."
When Aaron announced this to the whole assembly of the children of Israel,
they turned toward the desert, and lo,
the glory of the LORD appeared in the cloud!
The LORD spoke to Moses and said,
"I have heard the grumbling of the children of Israel.
Tell them: In the evening twilight you shall eat flesh,
and in the morning you shall have your fill of bread,
so that you may know that I, the LORD, am your God."

In the evening quail came up and covered the camp.
In the morning a dew lay all about the camp,
and when the dew evaporated, there on the surface of the desert
were fine flakes like hoarfrost on the ground.
On seeing it, the children of Israel asked one another, "What is this?"
for they did not know what it was.
But Moses told them,
"This is the bread which the LORD has given you to eat."

Responsorial Psalm PS 78:18-19, 23-24, 25-26, 27-28

R. (24b) The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
They tempted God in their hearts
by demanding the food they craved.
Yes, they spoke against God, saying,
"Can God spread a table in the desert?"
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Yet he commanded the skies above
and the doors of heaven he opened;
He rained manna upon them for food
and gave them heavenly bread. 
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
Man ate the bread of angels,
food he sent them in abundance.
He stirred up the east wind in the heavens,
and by his power brought on the south wind.
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.
And he rained meat upon them like dust,
and, like the sand of the sea, winged fowl,
Which fell in the midst of their camp
round about their tents. 
R. The Lord gave them bread from heaven.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
The seed is the word of God, Christ is the sower;
all who come to him will live for ever.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 13:1-9

On that day, Jesus went out of the house and sat down by the sea.
Such large crowds gathered around him
that he got into a boat and sat down,
and the whole crowd stood along the shore.
And he spoke to them at length in parables, saying:
"A sower went out to sow.
And as he sowed, some seed fell on the path,
and birds came and ate it up.
Some fell on rocky ground, where it had little soil.
It sprang up at once because the soil was not deep,
and when the sun rose it was scorched,
and it withered for lack of roots.
Some seed fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked it.
But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold.
Whoever has ears ought to hear."

Bring A Friends

Growing up we called most of the grown-ups in our lives Auntie or Uncle. It was a Hawaiian cultural sign of respect. I had no idea who was actually related to me and who wasn’t. I guess I could have put the numbers together, knowing dad had six siblings + spouses, and mom had three siblings + spouses, but I never felt the need to take an inventory of actual blood relations because everyone that was in our lives somehow became family. I got together with my cousins at a family reunion recently and we started talking about all the “bring a friends” that we have collected over the years that actually attended every family reunion, wedding, funeral, etc. And yes, some of us actually forgot that the “bring a friends” were not blood related. That’s just what we do. It was such a beautiful and rich upbringing and our family friends always felt cherished, welcomed, and wanted. Jesus invites us to his family reunion in today’s gospel.

Just like we called everyone Auntie or Uncle, today Jesus says, “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” We are the “bring a friends” that become family!! How fun is that?!! The key is that we do the will of our heavenly Father and so we must constantly align ourselves with that will. Keeping our hearts, minds, and spirit supple to grace is a constant move in our lives and requires receptivity that only comes from time spent in the presence of Jesus. Today’s gospel addresses that. Jesus gives a special invitation to those in his midst, “Here are my mother and my brother,” right here soaking in my word and being near to my heart. I am so moved by this today. Jesus calls me his sister and all I have to do is be in his presence. The more I am in his presence, the more my will becomes the Father’s will. 

Wouldn’t it be lovely to sit around at our next family reunion and not know who is blood related and who isn’t? Wouldn’t it be beautiful to call one another brother and sister and mother knowing that what makes us so is that we spend time with Jesus? Wouldn’t the world be different if we all knew whose we are? Jesus invites us into the family today, where we are cherished, welcomed, and wanted. It is well with my soul.

Reading 1 EX 14:21—15:1

Moses stretched out his hand over the sea,
and the LORD swept the sea
with a strong east wind throughout the night
and so turned it into dry land.
When the water was thus divided,
the children of Israel marched into the midst of the sea on dry land,
with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.

The Egyptians followed in pursuit;
all Pharaoh's horses and chariots and charioteers went after them
right into the midst of the sea.
In the night watch just before dawn
the LORD cast through the column of the fiery cloud
upon the Egyptian force a glance that threw it into a panic;
and he so clogged their chariot wheels
that they could hardly drive.
With that the Egyptians sounded the retreat before Israel,
because the LORD was fighting for them against the Egyptians.

Then the LORD told Moses, "Stretch out your hand over the sea,
that the water may flow back upon the Egyptians,
upon their chariots and their charioteers."
So Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, 
and at dawn the sea flowed back to its normal depth.
The Egyptians were fleeing head on toward the sea,
when the LORD hurled them into its midst.
As the water flowed back,
it covered the chariots and the charioteers of Pharaoh's whole army
that had followed the children of Israel into the sea.
Not a single one of them escaped.
But the children of Israel had marched on dry land
through the midst of the sea,
with the water like a wall to their right and to their left.
Thus the LORD saved Israel on that day
from the power of the Egyptians.
When Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore
and beheld the great power that the LORD
had shown against the Egyptians,
they feared the LORD and believed in him and in his servant Moses.

Then Moses and the children of Israel sang this song to the LORD:

I will sing to the LORD, for he is gloriously triumphant;
horse and chariot he has cast into the sea.

Responsorial Psalm EXODUS 15:8-9, 10 AND 12, 17

R.(1b) Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
At the breath of your anger the waters piled up,
the flowing waters stood like a mound,
the flood waters congealed in the midst of the sea.
The enemy boasted, "I will pursue and overtake them;
I will divide the spoils and have my fill of them;
I will draw my sword; my hand shall despoil them!" 
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
When your wind blew, the sea covered them;
like lead they sank in the mighty waters.
When you stretched out your right hand, the earth swallowed them!
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.
And you brought them in and planted them on the mountain of your inheritance—
the place where you made your seat, O LORD,
the sanctuary, O LORD, which your hands established. 
R. Let us sing to the Lord; he has covered himself in glory.

Alleluia JN 14:23

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Whoever loves me will keep my word,
and my Father will love him
and we will come to him.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MT 12:46-50

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers appeared outside,
wishing to speak with him.
Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
asking to speak with you."
But he said in reply to the one who told him,
"Who is my mother?  Who are my brothers?"
And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father

is my brother, and sister, and mother."