Sermon – Here Are My Mother and My Brothers (Matthew 12:46–50) – July 21, 2026

In his commentary on this passage, Saint Jerome says that the person who informed the Lord about the visit of his mother and brothers set a "trap" for him:

“The one who reports this does not do so by chance; rather, he is setting a trap to see whether one prioritizes blood and flesh over His spiritual work. Therefore, the Lord refuses to come out, not because he denies his mother and brothers, but to answer the one who set the trap for him.”

Saint Jerome continues:

“Therefore, he did not deny his mother (…) on the contrary, he prioritized his apostles over his family so that when a comparison needs to be made between loves, we too can prefer the soul to the body.”

Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, my sister, and my mother.

In another part of the Bible, the Lord says:

Not everyone who cries out to me, "Lord, Lord," will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only those who do the will of my Father in heaven. (Mt 7:21)

Therefore, to be saved and attain union with God, it is necessary to fulfill His Will.

What is His will?

Firstly , it is the fulfillment of His commandments. The Ten Commandments.

The second is to fulfill the duties required by our own life circumstances in a sacred manner.

We must fulfill our obligations, but by offering them to God. We must do them for God, out of love for God. This is the only way to unite with Him.

Knowing that you will receive the reward of the inheritance from the Lord, do whatever you do wholeheartedly as if you were doing it for the Lord, not for people. You are serving the Lord Christ. (Col. 3:23-24)

Let us ask Mary for the grace to do everything with the love of God.