We are all called to be build the Kingdom of God and as kingdom builders we must be single minded in our endeavours. One mind and One body in Christ. All that we will ever need is provided for by the Lord our God. And so we cannot say we do not have what it takes to do so. Well then how do we begin if we have chosen to remain ignorant and deaf to the call of our Lord?
For if we are truly living as God our Father’s children, then as one family in Him we would have heard His Word and put it into practice. Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ makes this very clear when he says ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God’ What follows is the action of putting it into practice thereafter. And indeed our Blessed Mother was a very clear example and model for us on how to do so through perfect obedience to the Word of God. Our Lord’s disciples too left everything to follow Him and as such were no longer called His servants, but friends. We know they are all now One body in Him in Heaven praying for us saints to join them.
”The kingdom of God [is] righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.” CCC 2819
O Holy Spirit open my heart to hear always the living Word. That I may live to build up the everlasting Kingdom where my one triune God lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen
First reading
Ezra 6:7-8,12,14-20
Darius king of Persia pays for the rebuilding of the Temple of God
King Darius wrote to the satrap of Transeuphrates and his colleagues: ‘Leave the high commissioner of Judah and the elders of the Jews to work on this Temple of God; they are to rebuild this Temple of God on its ancient site. This, I decree, is how you must assist the elders of the Jews in the reconstruction of this Temple of God: the expenses of these people are to be paid, promptly and without fail, from the royal revenue – that is, from the tribute of Transeuphrates. May the God who causes his name to live there overthrow any king or people who dares to defy this and destroy the Temple of God in Jerusalem! I, Darius, have issued this decree. Let it be obeyed to the letter!’
The elders of the Jews prospered with their building, inspired by Haggai the prophet and Zechariah son of Iddo. They finished the building in accordance with the order of the God of Israel and the order of Cyrus and of Darius. This Temple was finished on the twenty-third day of the month of Adar; it was the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The Israelites – the priests, the Levites and the remainder of the exiles – joyfully dedicated this Temple of God; for the dedication of this Temple of God they offered one hundred bulls, two hundred rams, four hundred lambs and, as a sacrifice for sin for the whole of Israel, twelve he-goats, corresponding to the number of the tribes of Israel. Then they installed the priests according to their orders in the service of the Temple of God in Jerusalem, as is written in the Book of Moses.
The exiles celebrated the Passover on the fourteenth day of the first month. The Levites, as one man, had purified themselves; all were pure, so they sacrificed the passover for all the exiles, for their brothers the priests and for themselves.
Gospel
Luke 8:19-21
The mother and the brothers of Jesus came looking for him, but they could not get to him because of the crowd. He was told, ‘Your mother and brothers are standing outside and want to see you.’ But he said in answer, ‘My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and put it into practice.’
CatholicJules.net 