Reading taken from the Gospel of St. Matthew 12: 46-50
12:46 While Jesus was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. 12:47 And one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking to speak to thee. 12:48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 12:49 And he stretched forth his hand towards his disciples, and said, Behold, my mother and my brethren! 12:50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father who is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.
Reflection
Today the Catholic Church in the world commemorates the prophet Elijah, the great prophet in the Old Testament. Do you remember how He met God? Yes, He met or experienced God not in the strong and furious wind, neither in the earthquake nor in the fire, but he met God in the soft whisper of a voice. It is symbolizing that he met God in the silence, in his deep and peaceful heart, not in anger or any other unhealthy feelings.
Today’s Gospel spells the similar words when Jesus said my mother, my brothers and sisters are those who do the will of my Father in heaven, not just those who are related to the blood or physical relationship. Jesus clearly asks all of us, teachers, staff and students to GO BEYOND our physical performance. Indeed our physical performance is important, we should wear a neat dress, keep smiling, greet each other, etc. Yes, you are right! We have to be proud as members of Saint Peter’s School, a catholic Christian School, we should loudly declare to others that we are students of Saint Peter’s or we are teachers of Saint Peter’s. But moreover Jesus wants us to go beyond such physical identities, Jesus wants us to behave as teachers or students who are expressing God’s will in our day to day life, in our feeling, our thinking and in our acting properly. For instance, how students have to respect to teachers and teachers also do the same by real actions, such as preparing lesson plan, creating a good learning and teaching process, how to make it fun, etc.
Let’s pray. Our Father, Hail Mary, Glory Be. Saint Peter, pray for us.