Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274), an Italian-born Dominican friar who distinguished himself as a philosopher, a theologian and a jurist. The name Aquinas identifies his ancestral origins in the county of Aquino in present-day Lazio, Italy. Unlike many currents in the Church of the time, Thomas embraced several ideas put forward by Aristotle—whom he called the Philosopher—and attempted to synthesize Aristotelian philosophy with the principles of Christianity.
It seems somewhat fitting that on the occasion of such a feast day, the scriptures present us with a moment when we need to ponder the scene that unfolds in order to uncover the wisdom that is being revealed. The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, 'Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you.' But he said to them in reply, 'Who are my mother and my brothers?' (Mk 3:31-32). Only at this moment does the full meaning of Jesus' teaching come to light. He says: ... whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother (Mk 3:35).
What appear at first glance to be a reproach directed toward Mary and the disciples is actually a word of high praise, for she showed us (and she has continued to show us) how we can all live as disciples of Jesus: ... whoever does the will of God ... is my brother and sister and mother.
May Saint Thomas help us today to identify all those who, like Mary, are faithful disciples: those who show us how to do the will of God, and encourage us to do the same.
Have a great day.
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