Scripture Reflection for July 22, 2008. Tuesday in Ordinary Time

Scripture: Tuesday of 16th week in Ordinary Time, Micah 7:14-15,18-20.
Psalm 85:2-4.5-6.7-8. Matthew 12:46-50. Lectionary # 396:

Micah's prophecies come to an end in our first reading. They are
ending on an encouraging message from God through this peasant prophet.
God's clemency, merciful-kindness, and faithfulness are easily sensed as we
listen to the reading from his last chapter. Jacob (Israel) and Abraham are
mentioned as forebearers of the trust and faith that we too are to have in
our loving God. Grace continues through the promise made to Abraham and
God's faithfulness to the covenant that Jacob experienced. We are thus
alive and well when it comes to us through these ancestors in our faith as
well as through the saints of yesterday and today. We as the People of God
today are included in these prophetic messages, challenges, and calls.
The response for today is a plea that is suited to the first reading,
"Lord, let us see your kindness." And God has already answered this through
the final words from our prophet Micah. Tomorrow will bring us another
Prophet, Jeremiah.
Discipleship is a major theme in the Gospels and Matthew gives us an
example of the call to discipleship in the Gospel for today. We are told
of the event of Jesus' mother and kindred searching him out where he is
teaching. All three of the Synoptics give us a glimpse into the scene and
narrate it with their own particular insights. In all three accounts the
message is the same, Jesus is calling us all to discipleship; this would
include his brethren and his mother! He teaches in Matthew on many
occasions and is depicted as a new type of Moses. How do we become a
member of his family when we are not Jewish? How do we hear him answering
the search that we have to be disciples? The sign of our relationship with
him and becoming a part of the family that he is calling us to consists in
the day by day doing of the will of the Father."Whoever does the will of my
Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother." We realize that
Mary has answered that call to discipleship from the very beginning by
saying "Yes" to the Angel Gabriel. Her response gives us the answer to our
discipleship in doing the will of God, "May it be done to me according to
your word." Amen.