Tuesday of week 3 in Ordinary Time
Saint Angela Merici, Virgin
Gospel: Mark 3:31-35
In today’s Gospel, Jesus redefines closeness in a way that goes beyond blood ties and external belonging. When He looks around at those seated in a circle around Him, He identifies His true family as those who listen to the Word of God and live it. Discipleship, therefore, is not primarily about proximity or status, but about presence, choosing to remain near Jesus with an open heart, attentive mind, and willing spirit. To sit around Him is to share His way of seeing, loving, and responding to the Father’s will. Saint Angela Merici embodied this form of discipleship by forming communities centered not on privilege or power, but on shared fidelity to Christ in everyday life. This Gospel invites us to ask where we place ourselves: are we merely observers standing outside, or are we among those who intentionally gather around Jesus, allowing His Word to shape our identity and guide our actions? Let’s reflect: Do I choose to truly sit around Jesus, listening to his Word and doing the will of the Father, or do I remain only outwardly close without letting my life be shaped by his presence?
Don Giorgio