The Gospel according to Luke (8:19-21)
The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him
but were unable to join him because of the crowd.
He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside
and they wish to see you.”
He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”
Reflection:
Today’s Gospel is very challenging, in that it seems to portray Jesus not acting very loving or with much charity toward His own earthly family. I mean, why would He not welcome His mother in and share her with the crowds at the house where He was? Wouldn’t that have been a more loving thing to do? We miss the point, though, and I am sure we are losing something in translation here as well.
Remember that these words were likely spoken in Aramaic, the language of Israel & Judea at the time of Jesus, and for us to have them, they were first translated into Greek, the language spoken more universally around the world at that time. After that, they were translated again into Latin by St Jerome. And from there, they were translated eventually into English. I don’t have to tell you that much can’t be easily or directly translated between languages, to say nothing of the manner of speaking and acting over centuries!
I mean, just look back even twenty or thirty years. At that time, if you wanted to reach someone by phone, you would “dial them up”. To end the call, you would hang up the receiver. If you use words like those to the younger generation, it’s likely you’ll be met by a blank stare, and that’s not even trying to speak another language (though the younger set may think you’re not speaking actual English!).
The important line is that last one, anyway. Jesus was saying that it was not about family blood ties to be part of His Father’s family. It is about our actions and how we try to live out Jesus’ own example. That is what allows you and me to also be part of Jesus’ family in heaven forever one day. Jesus wasn’t discounting the love He had for His mother (or her love for Him). No, He was expanding it to encompass even us who live all these centuries later – all of us who can’t quite grasp the nuances or figures of speech that Jesus’ listeners would have clearly understood. That is okay.
Our job is to grasp that basic point: you and I are adopted members of Jesus’ family, with God as our Father, and the saints and all whom God has called to Himself as our brothers and sisters. What a wonderful family reunion that will be one day!
One who did this was the saint we remember today: St Pius of Pietrelcina, more commonly known as St Padre Pio. A man of tremendous faith who died less than 60 years ago, but was blessed in his lifetime to receive the stigmata – the wounds of Jesus on his body, demonstrating his closeness to Jesus. I didn’t know it until I was researching him recently, but St Padre Pio received the stigmata in 1918 and lived with them for 50 years. I don’t think any of us can doubt that St Padre Pio is a brother of Jesus and the saints in heaven, praying for all of us today, and every day.
Action for the Day:
Let us ponder the way that God speaks to us today. The words may be different than what we see in Scripture, and different than what was spoken in years past, but He has a message for each of us, as long as we have the grace and patience to listen. Take time today, won’t you, and see what God wishes to say to you?
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