Jesus and his Family

THE mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him 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 WHO ARE MY MOTHER AND MY BROTHERS? Jesus himself answers the question that he raises. Whoever does the will of God is his mother and brothers. He goes beyond traditional family relations. He transcends them to get to a spiritual level. The spiritual family that comprises the Kingdom of God is not based on blood affinity but on obedience to the will of God. Belongingness to God’s family demands faith and action. Familial authority should be subservient to the will of God.

Pope Francis calls the universe our common home and appeals for a universal solidarity to care for Mother Earth and for one another. This is indeed a concrete example of faith in action.

“Faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead” ( Jas 2:17).

SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord 2017,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: books@stpauls.ph; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.