July 21, 2026
Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church
Gospel: Mt 12:46–50

Today is Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time. The Church celebrates today the Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest and Doctor of the Church. The Roman Martyrology tells us: Saint Lawrence (1559–1619) was born at Brindisi, Italy, and joined the Capuchin Order in Verona. A gifted theologian and accomplished linguist, he traveled widely throughout Europe and became especially renowned for his missions to the Protestants. In 1601, bearing only a crucifix, he led the Imperial Army during the recapture of Szekesfehervar (Hungary) from the Turks. Having served as Minister General of the Capuchins, he died in Lisbon on July 22, 1619, his sixtieth birthday. He was later declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Saint John XXIII.

Today, the passage from the Holy Gospel according to Saint Matthew presents to us the discourse by which Jesus reveals who His true kindred are. I wish to take this opportunity to continue offering some reflections.

Jesus’ mother and His brothers stood outside and did not enter the house where Jesus was. This reflects their inability to accept the Kingdom of God as proclaimed by Jesus, for in their view, the Kingdom of God preached by Jesus differed essentially from the kingdom taught by the Pharisees, the vision of God depicted by the Sadducees, and the Messiah proclaimed by the Herodians. Therefore, they did not enter the house where Jesus was, hoping instead that He would come out and, like them, return to Nazareth. Jesus did not comply with their wishes by leaving those who were willing to accept His Kingdom. Rather, He further revealed to us: “Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (cf. Mt 12:50) This reflects the very nature of the Kingdom He proclaimed: in this Kingdom, there is only the God who loves mankind and those beloved by God; all are brothers and sisters.

When Jesus said to the one who told Him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” (Mt 12:48), it might seem as though He were saying: “I do not recognize my mother, nor do I recognize my brothers.” The reality is quite the opposite. The Lord Christ, rich in mercy, thus implicitly extols His beloved Mother. The Blessed and Most Holy Virgin, when she heard from the angel that she was to become the Mother of God, humbly replied: “Behold, the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word!” (cf. Lk 1:26–38). After Jesus’ birth, through her prayer, He performed His first miracle in the Gospel according to John, at Cana in Galilee (cf. Jn 2:1–12). Today, while Jesus was speaking to the crowds, His Mother and His brothers arrived outside, wishing to speak with Him (cf. Mt 12:46). This very proof unequivocally demonstrates that the Blessed Mother fully fulfilled the divine will, entrusting herself wholly to God, thereby assisting Christ in carrying out the work of redemption on earth.

O God, who for the glory of your name and the salvation of souls bestowed on the Priest Saint Lawrence of Brindisi a spirit of counsel and fortitude, grant, we pray, that in the same spirit, we may know what must be done and, through his intercession, bring it to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica