The true family of Jesus

While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

REFLECTION WHO IS MY MOTHER? Jesus asks this rhetorical question when he is informed of the arrival of his mother and brothers (cousins) wishing to talk to him. The group must have come from Nazareth and tracked his preaching whereabouts. Jesus answers his own question by saying that anyone who does the will of his heavenly Father is his mother, brothers, and sisters. He makes people realize the importance of doing God’s will.

In fact, Jesus has come to establish God’s Kingdom and to teach people obedience to God. When people do God’s will, they become intimately connected with God. Jesus seeks relationships based on loving obedience to the Father as he himself teaches.

We do not obey God on our own terms. Jesus lays down the way to follow God’s will. He knows and reveals it to his listeners.

We live our faith in the concrete here and now. We do God’s will best when we are grounded on our present realities and on Jesus in the Church and in the world.

Are you a member of God’s family? Is Jesus your brother?

Are you following him and doing God’s will?