Gospel 

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

It's interesting how Jesus deals with an interruption. His mother, his brothers and sisters, those are relatives are all outside looking for him. We know that at times they all thought he was crazy. But what he does, he uses this interruption to make a point, and the point is that yes, family is a unity that we are, in a way obliged to take care of each other.

But the real obligation at the heart of the mystery of who Jesus is and what he's teaching, is all he wants is for us to attune our will to God's will, to want what he wants for his people. To be who we need to be for one another, so that we can be awakened to this kingdom of God.

It's a powerful, clear statement that the most essential relationship we have in our faith is with God. And when we want what God wants, we are forming the kingdom.

Closing Prayer

Father, the obligation that we have to one another is truly to be respectful and to honor someone's dignity. But really what we are called to do, more than just be friends with everyone or be friendly or nice, we're asked to manifest something that's powerful. You, God, live in each of us, and when we manifest you to another, that is the time that we are creating the Kingdom of God. Help us to be engaged in that essential work, seeing the world as God sees it, wanting it to be as God created it. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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