A homily on Luke 8:19-21, reflecting on the word “do,” showing how Jesus honours His Mother for living God’s Word and inviting us to practice it in our families. (23-9-25)
Praise be to Jesus Christ
Once, a young man had a deep desire to become a painter. He went to a famous teacher to learn the art of drawing. From the first day onwards, the guru started explaining how to mix colours, how to hold the brush, and how to draw lines and shapes. The Youngman listened carefully to everything and wrote down every word in his notebook. However, he never tried it with his own hands. He never practiced mixing the colours or drawing on paper. After many months, he could not even paint a small picture. The guru looked at him with sadness and said, “Knowledge written in a book is not enough. Unless you practice, unless you do what I teach, you can never become an artist.”
This is exactly what Jesus is teaching us today. In the Gospel He says, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” The small word “do” makes all the difference. Listening alone will not make us disciples. Like the disciple of the guru, if we only take notes but never act, the Word will not change our lives.
When Jesus speaks these words, He is not putting down His mother. In fact, He is publicly appreciating her. He is telling the crowd that Mary is truly His mother because she lived the Word of God. She did exactly what the Lord asked of her. At the Annunciation she said, “Let it be done to me according to your word.” She kept that “yes” alive through joy and sorrow, at Bethlehem, in Nazareth, and even at the foot of the Cross. She not only heard, she did. That is why she is the perfect disciple and the first member of this new family of God.
The Old Testament also points us in this direction. The prophet Micah says, “What does the Lord require of you but to do justice, to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God.” Again the word is “do.” God always wanted His people not just to hear the law but to live it.
Saint Augustine once reflected on this Gospel and said that Mary is blessed not only because she bore Christ in her womb, but even more because she bore Him in her heart by faith and obedience. She is honored because she put the Word into practice.
What does this mean for us today? In our families we hear the Word of God often. We pray, we attend Mass, we listen to homilies. But the Lord asks us to go further. Do we forgive when someone in the family hurts us? Do we share what we have with those who have less? Do we pray not only when we are in trouble but also when we are happy? Doing the Word in these simple daily acts makes our families true homes of Jesus.
There is a saying, “What you do speaks louder than what you say.” Children learn faith not only from hearing us speak about God but from seeing us live it. If parents pray, forgive, and love, children will carry the same. If parents gossip, quarrel, or live selfishly, children will carry that too.
Saint Teresa of Calcutta once said, “Love has to be put into action.” This is the same wisdom Jesus gives us today. Hearing is the lamp, doing is the journey. Mary, the first disciple, shows us how to walk it.
This Gospel is an invitation for us to become a family member of Jesus. Are we ready?
Lord Jesus, help me to do everything that You ask of me. Amen.
Very informative message. Thank you Father
To realise the Will of God is the Most Difficult Because the Truth and Justice Love Mercy has no place Only Lables Oh God Open Your Eyes, Thank you Fr , Nirmal Mary SAB