Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Gospel: Mark 3:31-35 The True Relatives of Jesus
We live in a society that values human relationships. When seeking employment, money is often used to facilitate connections; when interests align, the leaders we encounter in the workplace seem to become our relatives. Similarly, we also apply this (human) relationship model to our relationship with Jesus.
When we immerse ourselves in such social relationships for a long time, we lose ourselves and consequently lose direction in our faith life. Our eyes are bound by worldly concerns, and our hearts are entangled by human nature. Over time, we will realize that those siblings who treat us like brothers and sisters, especially the spiritual leaders who care for us, are gradually disappearing from our field of vision. These disappeared individuals play a decisive role in our spiritual life.
Today, the Mother of Jesus and His brothers stand outside the house, unwilling to enter the room where He is. This is because they cannot accept the new world revealed by Jesus, remaining trapped in the old framework depicted by the Pharisees, Sadducees, and rabbis, and failing to practice the commandments of the “True God” proclaimed by Jesus. This True God has only one commandment for His children – love: first, it requires us to love Him filially, and second, it requires us to love others as ourselves. Whenever we practice in this way, we become brothers, sisters, and mothers of Jesus.
Today, let us supplicate the Blessed and Most Holy Virgin Mary, imploring her to intercede for us, so that we may emulate her virtues and always and everywhere conform to God’s holy will. Amen.
Saints Timothy and Titus Gospel: Mark 3:22-30 Imitating Saints Timothy and Titus, Living in a Worthy Manner
Today, the Church celebrates the memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus. Saint Timothy was an assistant to the Apostle Paul during his missionary work in Greece and Asia Minor, and Saint Titus was also a companion of the Apostle Paul. Both saints, in their own ways, assisted the Apostle to the Gentiles, chosen by Christ Himself, in fulfilling his mission. Therefore, it is fitting for us to reflect on our own conduct in daily life.
In our daily lives, we often inadvertently say hurtful words—sometimes when we see others as stronger than us, sometimes when we see those who are less capable in various aspects doing better than us, and sometimes even in conflicts with our closest relatives. The root cause is actually our vanity influencing us. In life, we also face situations similar to what Jesus encountered today. When we live out the spirit of the Gospel and proclaim it to the world through our words, our tongues, and our actions, we may sometimes hear opposing voices. When we encounter such reactions, we are often tempted to argue and compete, seeking to prove our superiority in certain areas. All of this stems from following the impulses of the flesh. If, however, we are guided by the Holy Spirit, our outward actions will produce the fruits of charity, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. For those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us also follow the guidance of the Spirit (cf. Gal 5:22, 24–25).
When we compete with others, it is the devil attacking our hearts, creating discord between us and our brothers and sisters, our family, our friends, and our Church, thereby causing division. These human-made divisions gradually affect our relationship with God. As Jesus teaches us elsewhere: “It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, not sacrifice.’ For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matt 9:12–13).
Now, let us offer our prayers to God:
O God, who adorned Saints Timothy and Titus with apostolic virtues, grant through the intercession of them both, that, living justly and devoutly in this present age, we may merit to reach our heavenly homeland. 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.
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time – Sunday of the Word of God Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23 The Word of God: Calling People to Follow Him
Our emotions often change with the environment, and our bodies react accordingly to these emotional shifts. These reactions can affect our relationships with others: when we are positive, our connections are joyful; when negative, they may fracture, even leading to conflict; when pessimistic, we can spread that pessimism to those around us.
Like the people living in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali—among the Gentiles—who often grieved under the shadow of death, we too may feel trapped in sadness. But today, Jesus Christ, the true light of the world for all, comes to them, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, comforting their sorrowful hearts, and rekindling in them the hope of eternal life through His love.
When Jesus called Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John, they were busy with their livelihoods as fishermen. Immediately after His call, they left everything behind—their nets, their boats, their old way of life—and chose to follow Him.
Through Baptism and the anointing of the Holy Spirit, we too have been freed from the bondage of sin and death, becoming children of God, a holy nation, a chosen people. We are called to imitate Christ daily, living the joy of the Gospel so that others may see God’s infinite mercy in us and be moved to renounce their own attachments and turn to Him, journeying toward holiness.
St. Simon Peter, St. Andrew, St. James, St. John, you generously obeyed the Word of God, leaving everything to follow Him. Pray for us, that we may be worthy of proclaiming His Word to the world. Amen.
全属于祢 
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