St. Bridget of Sweden, religious 

＊＊＊1st Reading＊＊＊ Ex 14:21–15:1

Moses stretched his hand over the sea and Yahweh made a strong east wind blow all night and dry up the sea.

The waters divided and the sons of Israel went on dry ground through the middle of the sea,      with the waters forming a wall to their right and to their left. The Egyptians followed them and all Pharaoh’s horses, his chariots and horsemen moved forward in the middle of the sea.

It happened that in the morning watch, Yahweh in the pillar of cloud and fire, looked towards the Egyptian camp and threw it into confusion. He so clogged their chariot wheels that they could hardly move. Then the Egyptians said, “Let us flee from the Israelites for Yahweh is fighting for them against Egypt.”

Then Yahweh said to Moses, “Stretch your hand over the sea and let the waters come back over the Egyptians, over their chariots and horsemen.” Moses stretched out his hand over the sea. At daybreak the sea returned to its place. As the Egyptians tried to flee, Yahweh swept them into the sea.

The waters flowed back and engulfed the chariots and horsemen of the whole army of Pharaoh that had followed Israel into the sea. Not one of them escaped. As for the Israelites they went forward on dry ground in the middle of the sea, the waters forming a wall on their right and their left.

On that day Yahweh delivered Israel from the power of the Egyptians and Israel saw the Egyptians lying dead on the seashore. They understood what wonders Yahweh had done for them against Egypt, and the people feared Yahweh. They believed in Yahweh and in Moses, his servant.

Then Moses and the people sang this song to Yahweh: I will sing to Yahweh, the glorious one, horse and rider he has thrown into the sea.

 

＊＊＊＊ Gospel ＊＊＊＊

 Mt 12:46-50

 While Jesus was still talking to the people, his mother and his brothers wanted to speak to him and they waited outside. So someone said to him,

“Your mother and your brothers are standing outside; they want to speak with you.”

Jesus answered, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

 

Reflection gospel：

“A BROTHER AND SISTER AND MOTHER TO ME.”

By inaugurating the reign of God, Jesus establishes a “new historical family” on Earth. This new family is characterized by faith in Jesus and doing God’s will.

 Jesus is straightforward in saying that the doing of the will of the Father makes one a brother, a sister and a mother to him. It is the condition for becoming a member of this new family of faith. It needs to be said here that prior to having faith and the doing of God’s will is conversion. Conversion, or repentance, leads to following Jesus and living out God’s will. It is the passport toward a relationship with God and other people who have under gone the same conversion.

The closest possible relationship one can have is determined by our biological make-up, that is, our blood relationship with our siblings and parents. In the new family of faith in kingdom of God, doing the will of God is the bond, the connection, which brings together all those who believe in Jesus and the gospel. Beyond familial relationship it is the principle that brings us into a relationship with one another.