Jesus and His Family

Today's Reflections

Jesus and His Family 

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Lk 8:19-21

¹⁹[Jesus’] mother and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. ²⁰He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” ²¹He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

Reflection:

Brothers. Hebrew and Aramaic have no specific word for cousins. The word brothers in Aramaic tradition would mean relatives of Jesus. And in the English equivalent brothers are really the cousins of Jesus. In Greek, the language of the New Testament, the word for cousin is known and translated for the word brother.

In the Gospel, Jesus is not rejecting his natural family, his mother and his relatives. He is not impolite and he is not denying them. Jesus is not limiting his “eschatological family” to mere blood relationship; he is extending it so everyone can be included. Our relationship with Jesus is now based on our obedience and commitment to his word and doing God’s will. If we listen to God’s word and make God’s will our own (which, in Luke, Jesus’ mother Mary does in an eminent way), then we are brothers and sisters to Jesus and to one another. The kingdom of God is built up by this family relationship with Jesus and our brethren.

If we are really brothers and sisters “in Christ,” it is disconcerting to observe that we, Catholics, do not seem to feel our Christian bond or affinity with Sunday Mass-goers who are usually strangers or, at least, acquaintances. During Mass, our greetings of peace are clumsy, lame, distant, aloof, or even selective, restricted only to our respective natural family members.

Jesus calls the community of believers his “family.”

How do you help promote unity

and mutual support in the Christian communities

to which you belong?