If there is a central theme throughout today's readings, it is this: God does not think or act as human beings do. The sayings from Proverbs, which form a body of traditional old wisdom offering advice on a wide range of subjects, are excellent illustrations of this point. For example, to a man, the king is one of great authority, but to God, a king is merely like water in His hand. To a man, external behaviour may be of utmost importance, but God judges the inner being of a person. To a man, offering sacrifices may be seen as pleasing to God, but for God, how one acts and judges pleases Him. Certainly, God's ways are not the ways of human beings. Those who do not walk according to His will, through esteemed and honored by others, will be punished by Him.

In the Gospel passage, Jesus makes a similar point. When he is informed that his mother and close family members are in the crowd, Jesus asserts that for his followers, the fundamental relationship with him is not through family or blood ties, or any other human connections, but through hearing and obeying the Word of God. In this way, Jesus sets a new and different standard for his followers. As Christians, we may fall into a sense of complacency by thinking or believing that just because we are baptised, attend Mass regularly and are members of the Church, all is well with us. Today, we are reminded that God's ways are not our ways. Let us be vigilant!