So let's talk about today's readings 1/27/09

[cheeto1]

usccb.org/nab/readings/012709.shtml

“Behold, I come to do your will”. I don’t have an observation
or question about this line, it’s just what struck me because
I mean it with all my heart.

The psalmist says that he waited for God, and that God stooped
down and put praise into his mouth. Is that what the psalmist
was waiting for God to do? I have only waited for things I want,
or answers. I haven’t tried waiting for God to put praise into my
mouth. Has anyone else waited for this? Why would we need to
wait when we can praise Him anytime since He’s done only
everything.

Today Jesus said that anyone who does the will of His Father
in heaven is His brother and sister and mother. I understand
Him saying brother and sister, but I can’t wrap my brain around
Him saying “mother”, since I notice “father” is not on the list.

So what struck you about today’s readings?:bible1:

 

[cheeto1]

Now I’d like to share what struck our priest about today’s
readings:

He was struck by the same line as me, but in a different way.
When he read, “whoever does the will of My Father in heaven
is my brother and sister and mother”, what struck him is that
we humans are all one family, and that everytime there is a new
baby, that baby is “our” baby.

He told this story: There was a young couple I knew who had
their first child, and they were told the child would live no more
than 3 days, due to birth defects. Even so, the father was so
happy and proud. He insisted that all of us hold the baby.
The next day, he took the baby outside, and held him up to
the sky saying, “I want you to see this beautiful world you
were born into.” The next day, the baby died, and we held a
beautiful funeral, and I always remember that every human
child is a valuable part of our human family. As a side note,
this couple came into see me last month, they have a new
baby now, but we should all remember to value all children,
and take an interest in them.

That made me remember that today is the day of St. Angela
Merici, a founder of moral teaching for young women.
In her gospel today it says, “Anyone who welcomes a child
in My Name, welcomes Me.”