I am always amazed by how many people fill the pews for the weekday morning masses at Holy Rosary. It is usually the same group of people each morning, but still I am surprised by the number.
There are a couple of teachers from the high school and some parents and students. They are scattered throughout the church. It is so wonderful to see our teachers and these young people celebrating mass together with their parents. There is the same group that prays morning prayer together and the woman who prays the rosary first thing in the morning. She and I always great each other with nod and wink each morning. There’s the football coach who attends each morning, and the legion of retired coaches who also attend each day. They typically sit together near the back of the church. There are two deacons’ and their wives; one of them is usually assisting in the mass, and the others (wives included) typical serve as the Eucharistic ministers. Then there are the elderly couples, the widows and widowers who attend faithfully each morning sitting in the same spot each time.
Because we all attend mass together, we know one another by sight. But the sharing of the Eucharist brings us together as a family. I was actually reflecting on that very thought this morning. While we are not intimate friends, we share in a type of relationship or bond through the celebration of mass. Even though I do not know these people well, in fact, for many of them I don’t even know their names; but I know that we share a common belief, a united faith and love of God. That makes us a family.
So today’s gospel could not have been more timely. The gospel from Luke 8: 19-21, albeit brief, it is packed with meaning. “Then his mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.’ He said to them in reply, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.’”
The first time I heard this gospel, I thought, “Wow, Jesus is totally disregarding his mother. Would Jesus really do that?” But over time, as I read and re-read this passage, pondered and reflected on it, I realized that Mary and Jesus’ family, had already heard the word of God and were acting on it. They got it, they were serving God. Jesus uses this as teachable moment (of course he does). This was invitation to everybody else to become part of Christ’s larger family – the Church family. Jesus wasn’t disregarding his family; he was inviting us to become a part of his family that goes beyond blood relatives. He is inviting us to put the word of God into action, to serve, to be an example, to share the love of God with others.
The people, with whom I attend mass, whether it is at Holy Rosary, at the high school, at Holy Family, at Blessed Sacrament or at the Monastery, those people are part of a larger family, the family of Christ. I am grateful for them, for their prayers, and for their faith; for their love of God, for their devotion to celebrating week day mass, and for their nods, winks and knowing smiles that we are all part of a larger family; that we are brothers and sisters in Christ.
As I walked out of mass, this morning, I smiled and nodded at the people whom I really didn’t know and said hello to those that I do. And today, my nod and wink friend and I talked after mass. I actually knew her, but it has been years since she had seen me and didn’t recognize me. I had gone to grade school and high school with sons and daughter, however, they were a few years older than me. We talked for a few moments, mostly about how quickly time flies and how old we both felt at that moment. However, at that moment, we did feel like family.
Today, remember all of those people who have touched your life in some small way, think about your family – both the blood relations and those who are part of your larger family – and maybe offer a prayer for those people. And today, please pray for me and I will continue to pray for you.
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