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.”

Picture now the Lord stretching out his arms in a gesture of inclusion, as though he were embracing everyone in the family, as part of that covenant, as though he were saying that his followers are part of an intimate family, and can really feel at home, feel welcomed, feel together.

The people of Israel too felt themselves to be part of a family. There were foreigners, outsiders, but also those of our family. A chosen people, the apple of God’s eye.But now the Lord extends that inclusion in the family, by referring to God’s will, not to blood, not to the people of Israel.“For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

Music: Una rosa me diste, by the Choir of the Roman College of Holy Mary in Rome. 

Thumbnail: 1940s Belgian art deco holy card of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary by Jos Speybrouck.

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