New Relatives

Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest 

and Doctor of the Church

~~~ 2 Samuel 6:12b-15, 17-19 ~~~ Psalm 24 ~~~ Mark 3:31-35 ~~~

“Who are my mother and my brothers?”

I used to be shocked by these words
until I learned to see them differently.

Jesus' family did not really fully understand that he
had to go out to the people.
Inside Jesus was teaching those
who would become his disciples...his new family.

Jesus could not rely on his immediate family to be his disciples.
He had to go out to the people. He had to make his mission known.
Those who came to listen to him teach were usually
the ones who then became his disciples.

His family came because they loves him and wanted him to be safe.
Jesus knew that being safe was not going to be
the way of his life.

...For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.

Doing the will of God is what is required to become a true disciple.

Knowing the will of God is not enough;
one must do the will of God.

We must go forth practicing
and spreading the message of salvation.
Once we have become a disciple we will also
be a part of the family...
the family of Jesus.

Would you have been sitting in that group
 around Jesus that day?

Through his blessings we are in His family too.

We are Part of the 'Family'

~~~ Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20 ~~~ Psalm 122 ~~~ Luke 8:19-21~~~

 

The house of the Lord was built in Jerusalem

for everyone to come and enter.

 

The children of Israel–priests, Levites,
and the other returned exiles–
celebrated the dedication of this house of God with joy.

 

When you first read the verses from the Gospel it appears

 that Jesus is rejecting his own family.

Instead he is expanding the concept of family

to a much broader view point.

The 'family' no longer consists only of  one's parents and siblings,

but includes the larger community of believers.

 

That day Jesus did not even let his immediate family

take him away from his greater task of spreading the word.

Instead he gathers his listeners into his family...

he creates a community.

He includes those who are believers into an intimate family group.

 

 

In order to a part in this greater family we must hear and act according.

Jesus calls us his children...he says he has adopted us to be his own.

 

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

Those who are adopted into a family are every bit deserving of being called

sister and brother as those who are biologically connected.

Jesus became one of us...he took on our human flesh and blood

so that we may be united with him.

We have been chosen to become part of the household of the Father.

 

Sometimes it is our parents and siblings who actually

object to our following Jesus.

They can ridicule and judge us for our beliefs.

Jesus is saying, my family is so much greater

than the definition you are accustomed to experiencing.

 

The Father sent Jesus and he invites us to hear and act accordingly

as one who is part of the family.

 

Perhaps Mary was longing to see her son.

Perhaps Mary missed not having him around the house every day.

Perhaps she was concerned for his safety and wanted

him to come home with her.

She traveled some distance to reach her son,

yet they did not arrive in time to get into the house.

I wonder how differently this scene may have unfolded

had Mary arrived earlier. Something to contemplate later.

 

As the light of the world, Jesus could not just stay in his hometown

he had to go out and shine the light for truth and justice

 to as many as he could reach.

 

Jesus was a visitor in this temple,

but yet he spoke out and people crowded around to hear his words.

He was not in his hometown of Nazareth.

 

Blessings come not just in hearing the message,

but in how well we act upon its content.

Who Has the Last Word?

 

~~~ Genesis 17:1, 9-10, 15-22 ~~~ Psalm 128 ~~~ Matthew 8:1-4 ~~~

 

 Abraham prostrated himself and laughed as he said to himself,
“Can a child be born to a man who is a hundred years old?
Or can Sarah give birth at ninety?”

 

It is probably not a good idea to laugh at the words of God.

When God is determined to get your attention,

he sometimes makes use of what we would consider outrageous.
All things are possible with God.
We never need to wonder if God will do what he says.
It is God that changes names...
today he changes Sarai to Sarah.

Most parents I know spend much time picking
 just the right name before their baby is born.
When God changes someone's name it indicates he has
 simultaneously changed their life.

God wanted Sarah to see herself as a new woman
even though she was at the end of her life.

 

 

The woman formerly known as Sarai was old, and barren.
Sarah was rejuvenated from within...
God blessed her with new life.
She would from then on know herself as a mother.
 From that day forward she would not question God's plan.
From that day forward she was given a new passion for life.
I think life begets more life.

Her despair was turned to a joy filled hope beyond her imagination.
She had given up the hope of conceiving...
but God changed everything.
God gave Isaac to Sarah and Abraham.
If there is any part of your life where you have lost hope
trust that God has his plan still to come.

God has the last words of blessing.
He alone gives life.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Part of the Family

~~~ Proverbs 21: 1-6, 10-13 ~~~ Psalm 119 ~~~ Luke 8: 19-21 ~~~

 

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

 

These few verses from Luke's gospel hold basic truths for us today.

Even those who appear to have a relationship with the Lord may not.

Even those who claim kinship with the Lord may not be who they claim to be.

 

I am not attempting here to discount the literal text,

instead I am putting it in a much boarder context.

 

Jesus was tucked into the crowd...inaccessible to those outside the group.

If you do not have access to the Lord it makes things so much more difficult.

When you cannot see the Lord you must carry on relying on your faith alone.

 

Why didn't the crowd just make a path allowing

Mary at least to come in closer to her son?

This is not the point of this text.

 

Why didn't Jesus ask that his mother be brought in closer to him?

This is not the point of this text either.

 

What was so urgent that Mary came to the place where Jesus was doing his

father's business?

This is not the point of the text either.

 

Jesus goes on to make the statement..

"My mother and my brothers
are those who hear the word of God and act on it."

 

If you want to be considered a part of the family

there are a couple of qualifications.

 

First you must be able and willing to hear the word of God.

 

Second you must be committed enough to take action.

 

Becoming a part of the family of God happens at Baptism.

Our Baptism is only the beginning though.

 

As a result of our being welcomed into the family we must follow up.

We must take the time to hear the word of God through the scripture.

We must make the effort to not just hear the words

but really tune in to their meaning.

 

What is the message expressed through the word of God?

We can only gain insight by spending time with scripture;

every day if possible.

 

The more time we devote to studying the word of God

the better we will grasp the meaning.

 

 

When we have really heard the word of God

then we can act on it accordingly.

 

Once we hear; the Holy Spirit can stir up our hearts to take action.

If we are to be in a 'family' relationship with God

we should act in a manner worthy of that place.

 

Jesus clearly states that all who hear the word of God

and act on it are his relatives.

Please note that he was not satisfied with our only hearing the word.

 

It is almost a waste of time to just hear the word.

Your actions must be aligned with what you are hearing.

 

Whether you hear or not; all will be reflected through your actions.

 

Join me in prayer:

Lord, let my actions always be the fruit of hearing your words.

Place in my heart a deep longing for your words.

Give me the desire to love your holy scriptures.

 

Each of us can have an intimate family relationship with Jesus.

You don't belong standing outside.

It is not an option!

You are part of the Family.