Saint of the day : 21 July
Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Gospel Reading : Matthew 12:46-50
While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood outside, asking to speak to him.
But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brethren?”
And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brethren!
For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
What do the Fathers say?
Pope St GREGORY the Great. The Lord deigned to call faithful disciples His brethren, saying, Go, tell my brethren. Since then a man may be made a brother of the Lord by coming to the faith, it should be enquired how one may become also His mother. Be it known by us then, that he that by believing is made brother or sister of Christ, becomes His mother by preaching; for in pouring Him into the heart of the hearer, he may be said to beget the Lord; and he is made the Lord’s mother, when by his word, love of the Lord is begotten in the mind of his neighbour.
St John CHRYSOSTOM. And besides what has been said, He taught also something more, namely, that we should not neglect virtue – relying on any family ties. For if it profited His mother nothing that she was such, if she had not had virtue, who is there that shall be saved by his kindred? There is only one way , to do the will of God, and therefore Our Lord says, For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.”.
Many women have blessed that holy Virgin and her womb, and have desired to be made such mothers. What is it then that hinders? Behold, He has set before you a broad way, and not women only, but men likewise, may become the mother of God.
Sources:
Bible readings from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Second Catholic Edition, copyright © 2006 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA
Quotes of the Fathers from :
Thomas Aquinas’ Catena Aurea Translated by St John Henry Newman
Artwork ex Wikimedia Commons