The Word of God is not "a comic book" to be read, but a teaching to be listened to with the heart and put into practice in daily life. A commitment accessible to all, because although "we have made it a little difficult", the Christian life is "simple, simple": in fact, "listening to the word of God and putting it into practice" are the only two "conditions" set by Jesus for those who want to follow him.

This is in synthesis, for Pope Francis, the meaning of the readings proposed by the liturgy [...]. Celebrating Mass at Santa Marta, the Pontiff dwelt in particular on the Gospel passage [...] which tells of Jesus' mother and brothers who are unable "to approach him because of the crowd". Starting from the observation that he spent most of his time 'on the road, with the people', the bishop of Rome noted how among the many who followed him there were people who felt 'in him a new authority, a new way of speaking', they felt 'the power of salvation' he offered. "It was the Holy Spirit," he commented, "who touched their hearts because of this".

But, the Pope noted, mixed in among the crowd were also people who followed Jesus with ulterior motives. Some 'out of convenience', others perhaps out of a 'desire to be more good'. A bit 'like us', he said, bringing the speech up to date, who 'many times we go to Jesus because we need something and then we forget him there, alone'. A story that repeats itself, since even then Jesus sometimes rebuked those who followed him. This is what happens, for example, after the multiplication of the loaves, when he says to the people: 'You come to me not to hear the word of God, but because the other day I gave you something to eat'; or with the ten lepers, of whom only one returned to thank him, while 'the other nine were happy with their health and forgot about Jesus'.

Despite everything, the Pope said, "Jesus continued to speak to the people" and to love them, to the point of calling "that immense crowd 'my mother and my brothers'". Jesus' family members are therefore "those who listen to the word of God" and "put it into practice". This,' he noted, 'is the Christian life: nothing more. Simple, uncomplicated. Perhaps we have made it a little difficult, with so many explanations that no one understands, but the Christian life is like this: listening to the word of God and practising it. That is why we prayed in the psalm: 'Guide me Lord on the path of your commands', of your word, of your commandments, to practise'.

Hence the invitation to "listen to the word, truly, in the Bible, in the Gospel", meditating on the Scriptures in order to put their contents into practice in daily life. But, the Pontiff clarified, if we scrutinise the Gospel superficially, then "this is not listening to the word of God: this is reading the word of God, as one might read a comic strip". While listening to the word of God "is reading" and asking oneself: "But what is this saying to my heart? What is God saying to me with this word?". Only in this way does "our life change". And this happens 'every time we open the Gospel and read a passage and ask ourselves: "With this God is speaking to me, is he saying something to me? And if he says something, what does he say to me?"'.

This means "listening to the word of God, hearing it with our ears and listening to it with our heart, opening our heart to the word of God". In contrast, "Jesus' enemies listened to Jesus' word but were close to him to try to find fault, to make him slip" and make him lose "authority. But never did they ask themselves: 'What does God say for me in this word?'".

Moreover, the Pontiff added, "God does not speak only to everyone, but he speaks to each one of us. The Gospel was written for each one of us. And when I take the Bible, take the Gospel and read, I must ask myself what the Lord is saying to me". After all, 'this is what Jesus says his true kinsmen, his true brothers, do: listen to the word of God from the heart. And then, he says, 'they put it into practice'".

Of course, Francis acknowledged, 'it is easier to live quietly without worrying about the demands of God's word'. But 'the Father has also done this work for us'. Indeed, the commandments are precisely 'a way of putting into practice' the word of the Lord. And the same applies to the beatitudes. In that passage from Matthew's Gospel, the Pope observed, "there are all the things that we must do, to put God's word into practice". Finally, 'there are the works of mercy', also mentioned in Matthew's Gospel, in chapter 25. In short, these are examples "of what Jesus wants when he asks us to 'put into practice' the word".

In conclusion, the Pontiff summed up his reflection by recalling that 'many people followed Jesus': some 'for the novelty', others 'because they needed to hear a good word'; but in reality there were not many who then actually put 'the word of God into practice'. Yet 'the Lord did his work, because he is merciful and forgives all, he calls everyone back, he waits for everyone, because he is patient'.

Even today, the Pope emphasised, 'many people go to church to hear the word of God, but perhaps they do not understand the preacher when he preaches a little difficult, or do not want to understand. Because this too is true: our heart many times does not want to understand'. But Jesus continues to welcome everyone, "even those who go to hear the word of God and then betray him", like Judas who calls him "friend". The Lord, Francis reiterated, "always sows his word" and in return "asks only for an open heart to hear it and good will to put it into practice. For this reason then, let today's prayer be that of the psalm: "Guide me Lord on the path of your commands", that is, on the path of your word, and that I may learn with your guidance to put it into practice".

[Pope Francis, homily s. Martha, 23 September 2014; https://messadelpapa.com/omelia-del-21-novembre-2018-vangelo-e-parola-del-giorno/]

Jesus formed a new family, no longer based on natural ties, but on faith in him, on his love which welcomes us and unites us to each other, in the Holy Spirit. All those who welcome Jesus’ word are children of God and brothers and sisters among themselves. Welcoming the word of Jesus makes us brothers and sisters, makes us Jesus’ family. Speaking ill of others, destroying others’ reputations, makes us the devil’s family.

Jesus’ response was not a lack of respect for his mother and his brethren. Rather, for Mary it is the greatest recognition, precisely because she herself is the perfect disciple who completely obeyed God’s will.

[Pope Francis, Angelus 10 June 2018]