24-Jan-17

Gospel MK 3:31-35
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?"
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother."
Reflection:
"Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you."
The question of whether Jesus had natural born brothers and sisters has been debated among scripture scholars for centuries. There are many plausible explanations: Perhaps Mary did give birth to other children. Perhaps Joseph was a widower and had children from his first marriage.
No one knows with any degree of certainty.
To get caught up in this question one risks missing the point of the story.
But he said to them in reply,
"Who are my mother and my brothers?"
Jesus is really asking, 'What constitutes family?"
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
"Here are my mother and my brothers."
Jesus is telling us that family is comprised of the common bond of mutual beliefs, love of one another, and the spiritual and physical support of each other.
In speaking of our caring for "family," Jesus said, "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Matthew 25:40 - NRSVCE)
"For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother."
Always pointing us toward the will of our Father, Jesus taught us to pray: "Thy Kingdom Come, Thy Will be done on Earth as it is in Heaven."
"Brothers and sisters are not only born of blood lines, they are also born of love ❤️ lines." - - Unknown