"doing the honors"
"He was told, 'Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.' He told them in reply, 'My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act upon it.' " —Luke 8:20-21
If your mother came to visit you, would you leave her standing outside while you were talking with other people? That's what Jesus did. Was Jesus disobeying the fourth commandment by not honoring His mother? No, Jesus was not refusing to honor His mother. He was honoring her even more for her hearing God's word and acting on it, even to the point of the Word becoming flesh in her womb (Jn 1:14). Furthermore, Jesus extended His honor of Mary to include anyone willing to hear God's word and act on it. So Jesus was not dishonoring Mary but honoring her more, and even honoring those who choose to live honorably by hearing and obeying His word.
Will you let the Lord honor you with Mary? Will you choose to be as close to Jesus as His mother, brothers, or sisters? Will you live a life of obedient faith (see Rm 1:15) in God's word and thereby receive the intimacy, security (Mt 7:24), and happiness (Lk 11:28) that He died on the cross for you to possess. Get on God's honor roll.
Prayer: Father, open my eyes and heart to obey You in areas where I have been traditionally disobedient.
Promise: "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the Lord than sacrifice." —Prv 21:3
Praise: Bill and Jim struggled with alcohol abuse as young men. Jesus set both men free and now they are members of the same Christian community.
Reference: (For related teaching, order our leaflet, Obedience School.)
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Robert J. Buschmiller, January 29, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, February 5, 1996