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.

We Are Family

 

~~~ Exodus 14:21—15:1~~~ Exodus 15:8-9, 10 and 12, 17 ~~~ Matthew 12:46-50 ~~~

 

 Moses stretched out his hand and the seas parted.
The Israelites were able to escape from the pursuit
of the mighty Egyptian army.

The Israelites had no power against this army
of fast chariots and sharpened swords.
God shattered their lack of faith.
He expanded their understanding of what it meant
to have God on your side...
He proved to them that he would take
extreme measures because they were his chosen people.
 

 

 Among many other things Jesus teaches us to expand our thinking.
He was the original 'out of the box' thinker.

He includes all of us in his family...as his sisters, 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.”
Just as Moses stretches out his hand to save the Israelites,
Jesus stretches out his hand and saves us.
He gathers us into his family. This is personal.
A family shares more than friends...family shares genetic material.
We do share genetic material with Jesus because he
took on our humanity....flesh and blood.
He was born of a woman, Mary.

Today our priests stretch out their hands sending blessings upon us.
We are their sister and brothers too.

I pray that I will never take for granted
this blessing of being part of the family of Jesus.

Blessings in being adopted as part
of the family of Jesus.