The True Family of Jesus

Today's Reflections

The True Family of Jesus 

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Mt 12:46-50

⁴⁶While [Jesus] was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. [⁴⁷Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.”] ⁴⁸But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. ⁵⁰For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Reflection:

My brother, and sister, and mother. The Hebrew and Aramaic languages have no specific word for cousins. The word brothers in Jesus’ time also means relatives. In Greek, the language of the Bible (New Testament), the word for cousin is “brother.”

Jesus here is not rejecting his family. He is not limiting his family to just blood relationship. He is actually extending his family. If we make God’s will our own, we are family with Jesus. If we take God’s word as our life, our kinship or familial relationship with Jesus begins.

In the Gospel, Jesus is offering his brotherhood, his friendship, and his familial relationship to us through hearing and living his word.

How is our relationship with Jesus?

Are we brothers and sisters to him

and to one another?