The Gospel according to Matthew (12:46-50)
While Jesus was 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:
Today’s Gospel has some seemingly harsh words from Jesus toward His blood relatives and even His own Mother, the Virgin Mary. He seems to discount their relationship in favor of those who are His disciples. Is that what Jesus really meant? How do we square that with Jesus’ message of love toward all?
I’ve reflected on this Gospel several times now here on the DEACON5, and I thought today I’d relate it to a very real reality for some families. The truth of today’s Gospel passage highlights that what is important to God is our fidelity to our faith in Him. When we call ourselves “Christian”, it means that we are a follower of Christ and that we value that relationship above all others. Yes, ALL OTHERS.
Now, that may mean choosing to do things that others in our families don’t understand or value – like observing the various rules, especially Lenten sacrifices, abstaining from meat on Fridays in Lent, focusing more of our time on prayer, making sure we get to Mass every Sunday and Holy Day, even when there are other things we could be doing instead. Or maybe they don’t understand when we are willing to forgive those who hurt us, rather than wanting to get even with them, or for them to suffer in some way.
That kind of perspective can and has caused strife within families. Jesus does not shy away from it, either. Elsewhere in the Gospels He points out how He came “for division” and how families will be divided. But, make no mistake – we are never to stop loving those who we are related to, or to stop praying for them to also find their way to God if they aren’t His followers. We aren’t better because we are believers – we are the ones who are to call out to others, that they know they are blessed even as we are.
It doesn’t promise to be an easy path, but what better goal can any of us have, than to seek to bring Jesus’ Kingdom here now, so we can start living in it now and call everyone to join in that celebration in heaven that never ends?
Action for the Day:
If you are estranged from family because of your faith, pray for that family member, that he or she may come to know how loved he or she is in the eyes of the Creator. Pray for all who are parted from each other, that God in His mercy may bring all of His children together to love Him forever in heaven one day.
Link to the DEACON5 website: https://deacon5.com/
If you would like to hear this reflection, click the link below!
