The Feast of St Francis de Sales | Tuesday 24 January 2023

Today is Tuesday the 24th of January, the feast of St Francis de Sales, in the third week of Ordinary time.

IAmSon and Lisa Oduor-Noah sing, ‘I Wanna Know’. Can you make these words your own today?


I wanna know
I wanna know You, Lord
In all Your ways
I wanna know
I wanna know You, Lord
In all Your ways
For to know You is to love You
And to love You is to do what You say
So, in all Your ways
I wanna know You, Lord
I wanna seek (Ooh)
I wanna seek Your face (Ooh)
Day by day (Ooh, ooh)
I wanna seek (Ooh)
I wanna seek Your face (Ooh)
Day by day (Ooh, ah)
For to seek You (To seek You)
Is to love You (Is to find You)
And to find You (To find You)
Is to follow Your heart (Follow Your heart)
And be where You are
I wanna seek Your face
I wanna know You, Lord
Draw me nearer, draw me closer
I just want to know Your ways
And take my heart, and purify it
I just want to know Your ways
I wanna know You
Oh, I wanna know You (I wanna know)
Oh, I wanna know, know
I wanna know
I wanna know
For to know You is to love You
And to love You is to do what You say
So, in all Your ways
I wanna know You, Lord

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.


Mark 3:31-35

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’

We’re used to scribes and pharisees being hostile to Jesus. Here, it is his own family who are concerned. Perhaps he’s lost his mind and needs a few quiet weeks back home. They may also want to protect him from more malign opposition. What’s all this like for Mary? How do you imagine Mary watching the precarious career of her Son?

As well as detractors, there are also crowds of people who flock to Jesus because he is speaking so profoundly to their hearts. Who do you reckon is listening to him today? Can you picture them?


How is Jesus bringing good news to these lowly people?

As we listen again, be mindful of the challenges Jesus is facing, from enemies and even, at times, family and friends. Yet, there are always people who long to be near him, and to receive from him. How is the crowd ministering to Jesus here?

Jesus looks at that crowd and calls them his mother and his brothers and sisters . . . sit in the crowd. Let him look at you, and bring you into his family . . .


Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.