Seeking Mr. Popularity
"He said to them in reply, 'My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.'" (Luke 8:21)
"He said to them in reply, 'My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.'" (Luke 8:21)
Let’s be honest: many of us are starstruck by famous people, especially when they are in our midst. Additionally, famous personalities will often market themselves to attract fans to bolster their egos, promote their ideologies, and/or to increase their financial bottom lines.
In early first-century Galilee, Jesus was Mr. Popularity. Yet, he was not seeking fame for selfish gain. His purpose was to complete his Father’s mission: to preach and proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God.
Reception of Jesus’ good news incorporates us into the family of God and makes us co-heirs with Christ, our brother.
The gospel reading today calls us to further reflect on what it means to be a true disciple of Christ: We must “hear the word of God and act on it.” Therefore, we are challenged
to ask ourselves why we choose to bear the name Christian,
to consider daily whether we are striving to fully embrace his teachings,
to contemplate if we are committed to applying his teachings to every area of our lives, and
to examine whether we are willing to submit our will to his in all things.
There is no doubt that being a fan of Jesus is countercultural and that the devout life of a Christian is challenging. However, three practices can help us to live out Jesus’ call to discipleship:
Daily reading Scripture and praying the Rosary
Frequent celebration of the Sacrament of Reconciliation
Regularly practicing corporal works of mercy by serving our neighbors
As a fan of Jesus, am I also his true relative — one who hears the word of God and acts on it?
Heavenly Father, increase my desire to learn your Word, and then to live out your teachings in every area of my life every single day. Amen.
Charmaine Carter, MD is a retired physician, now serving as the Director of Evangelization and Adult Faith Formation at the Cathedral of St. Jude the Apostle. She became Catholic 16 years ago along with her husband Deacon John Carter and their 3 children. She holds a Master of Theology from Saint Leo University, and she is a Spiritual Director, having trained at the Cenacle of Our Lady of Divine Providence School of Spirituality. On any given day, you will find her studying and/or teaching Sacred Scriptures, which are her passions.
