Fr Paul reads from the Gospel of Luke (8: 19-21) in which Jesus says, ‘My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice’. Fr Paul says we see that the crowd in this Gospel form a barrier between Jesus and his mother and brothers, who are waiting outside. Mary and the brothers are pointed out as those who listen to the word of God and put it into practice. This Gospel comes straight after the parable of the lamp where reference is made to listening. For our reflection today, given what Jesus declares in the Gospel today, Fr Paul says we might ask ourselves ‘How often and how well do I listen to the word of God? How often and how well do I put it into practice?’