A real family.

Indeed, it has happened to you that you needed something, you asked for it, and you knew they had it, that it was in their power to get it and get it, but you were not their acquaintance, so you left without success, without help. We say that everything goes different at once if one has an uncle upstairs in the office… In other words: Without patronage, you will get nowhere. And today, let’s add: Not even to heaven!

In the Gospel, we heard how his mother and the apostles, cousins, and cousins demanded to meet Jesus. That is to say, in the language in which the Lord Jesus and his contemporaries spoke, there was no difference in words between brother and cousin. Thus, it would seem to us at first sight that the Virgin Mary had more than one child, and the Lord Jesus could have had both a brother and a sister. Such a misunderstanding of this part of the Gospel is still held by many churches and sects today because they do not know or do not want to know the true meaning and content of these words. But that is not the point of this passage. The Lord Jesus here gives us a very high exaltation of spiritual kinship over carnal kinship.

Those who hear the words of Jesus are in a beautiful relationship with Him, the other members of this family, and their own mother, father, brother, or sister. That our commitment to this spiritual community is more vital than to the blood community, he makes us aware of this by his example. When Jesus, on pilgrimage to Jerusalem, leaves his parents, he later abandons his mother and stays in the company of those who want to listen to him. When he is interrupted by relatives while proclaiming the Gospel, he leaves them waiting. He emphasizes the primacy of spiritual kinship with these words: “For whoever does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mt 12:50).

We who are baptized are well off. We have a Father in heaven. Jesus Christ won for us this familial relationship when, in the Holy Spirit, He adopted us as His brothers. It is a pity, however, that we so disturb it by sin. For by sin we oppose and deprive ourselves of the right of sons hip, we cease to be children, brothers, sisters, and mothers. But what are we to do when, through human weakness, this happens to us? We are to make amends at once, as soon as possible.

Remember the war. Many of you have experienced it; others have seen it, at least in the movies. When they did a house search, they looked through the whole house; from the roof to the basement, they looked in the closets, under the bed, and in the bed. Nothing escaped the watchful eye of the searchers. Such a thorough search of one’s soul should be undertaken by every single Catholic Christian. Yes, even one who approaches the Sacrament of Reconciliation every month.

You come here, dear brothers and sisters, and you often feel more ill mentally than physically. You are held by fear, you feel tension and dissatisfaction with yourself and your conscience. You would like most of all to erase all this and start anew. Yes, start. You have the opportunity and ample free time to conduct a thorough review of your spiritual life. After all, you want to be happy. But how do you want to feel comfortable if you are not family with Jesus?

Get ready and be reconciled to God! Typically, you are still out of breath, and the priest has to wait until you are out of breath and then move on. But this is not about the priest, he will wait, but it is about those who are also waiting… but above all, it is about you. When you are not ready, you just speak as if from a record that has been playing in the confessional for thirty or forty years. No. Before an excellent holy confession, break up the worn-out record, for you are tired of listening to it yourself, and try to listen to another, a new one, which will play after a good and sincere prayer before the sacrament of reconciliation. Then reflect. Take the help of the spiritual mirror that every prayer book has and examine your friendship, your family, and your spiritual relationship with Jesus. Admittedly, it can’t be done quickly. Every significant thing needs time to be realized.

Confession is the most important thing for a Catholic Christian after sin. This means that one who wishes to make a good, Holy Confession must find a time and place where he will not be disturbed by anyone or anything. Accordingly, since he has not been to confession, he must devote time to it accordingly. When a person does not question his conscience daily, when he ignores his conscience, he must make more effort, slowly sifting through his life, friendships, acquaintances, and attitudes. Even one who has not been to confession for many years and today has the opportunity can prepare himself in this way.

No one can plead before a righteous Judge that he has not been told where he is. And maybe Jesus is sending you here to start a new life with us today. The true, supernatural one. At home, you are ashamed, afraid of being seen, and you don’t have complete trust in the priest; he is your friend and a sinner. Do not hesitate! Jesus is waiting! But for you, brother and sister, who also come to Holy Confession every week, the words apply to you too: “For everyone who does the will of my Father who is in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (Mt 12:50).

You, too, need to give more time to your confession sacrament of reconciliation from time to time. Compare the seasons to see if you are improving in your individual sins or loosening up. Whether a true reformation is taking place in you, or whether you are falling into complacency.