Being Close To Jesus

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

In today’s Gospel. Jesus is told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” And His response is: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” At first, it can sound cold. It can sound as though Jesus is pushing His family away. But He is not rejecting Mary. In fact, Mary is the perfect example of what He is talking about, because she heard the word of God and acted on it. The theme today is this: being close to Jesus is not about proximity; it is about obedience.

We can be around holy things and still remain far from God. We can come to Mass, know the prayers, wear a cross, serve in the parish, and still keep certain parts of our life closed to Him. Jesus is saying that real relationship with Him is not built simply by being near Him. It is built by listening and responding. There is a difference between hearing the Gospel and letting the Gospel change you. One reaches the ears. The other reaches the heart.

And that is where this becomes uncomfortable. Because most of us like the idea of Jesus speaking to us, but we are less excited when His word asks us to change. Forgive this person. Let go of that resentment. Stop returning to that sin. Be more generous. Make time for prayer. Speak the truth. Apologise. Trust Me. Sometimes we want God to give us a word that confirms what we already want. But discipleship begins when we allow His word to interrupt us.

What makes Mary so great is not only that she gave birth to Jesus, but that she kept saying yes to God. “Let it be done to me according to your word.” That is the heart of discipleship. Not one dramatic yes, but many small yeses. A yes when it is easy, and a yes when it costs us. A yes when we understand, and a yes when we do not. Jesus is not making His family smaller in today’s Gospel. He is opening it wider. He is saying, in a sense, “You too can belong this deeply to Me. Hear My word. Live it.”

So maybe the question today is not, “Do I believe in Jesus?” Maybe the more honest question is, what has Jesus said that I am still avoiding? Because that may be the place where He is inviting us into deeper friendship with Him. We become His family not simply by knowing His words, but by allowing those words to become flesh in our own lives.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, give me a heart that truly listens. Do not let Your word pass through my ears without changing my life. Give me the courage to say yes, especially in the places where I resist You. Teach me to hear Your voice, trust Your word, and live as a true member of Your family. Amen.

– Homily by Rev. Fr. Patrick Agbeko