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Gospel Reading for July 21, 2026 – Matthew 12: 46-50
HIGHLIGHTS
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
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This passage is often cited by those who do not wish to acknowledge Mary’s unique role in the history of salvation. Perhaps this is because they believe that Catholics “worship” Mary, when in fact all worship belongs to God alone. This is true. We do not worship Mary; rather, we honor her as the mother of Jesus and seek her intercession. Mary always leads us to her Son. Remember her words at the wedding at Cana (John 2: 1–12): “Do whatever he tells you.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus does not diminish Mary’s importance. On the contrary, he HIGHLIGHTS the very reason she was chosen to be his mother. Who knew Mary better than Jesus himself? He alone knew the kind of woman she was. Let us not forget that she lovingly cared for the Son of God from his infancy until the beginning of his public ministry. More importantly, doing the will of the heavenly Father meant treasuring in her heart all that was happening in their lives, even when she did not fully understand it. It meant suffering in silence as she witnessed the cruelty inflicted upon her Son. It meant grieving in silence as she stood beneath the cross and watched him die.
It is no wonder that, before he breathed his last, Jesus entrusted Mary to John. Perhaps it was so that John might continue to benefit from her maternal care, and at the same time, so that Mary herself would be lovingly cared for in her old age.
To be a Christian is to belong to the family of God. If we faithfully do the Father’s will, we become Jesus’ mother, brother, and sister.
Lord Jesus, may we imitate Mary in her unwavering faithfulness and wholehearted obedience to the Father’s will. Amen.
