What do we make of the Gospel we hear today? Not only does Jesus not go out to see his mother, but Jesus also proposes that those who are inside the house with him are his “real” family. But, are those who are outside to see him, are they still his family? Immediate and extended families and kinfolk were a very important part of society in the ancient Mediterranean world. In the Gospel today, Jesus expands the concept of family beyond blood relatives. Jesus sees family as those who desire a relationship with God and a desire to follow God’s will in their lives. Unfortunately, there are those family members who do not want a relationship with God in their lives. And perhaps some of us may experience this reality in our own circle of friends and our own families. But, for Jesus, in the family of faith, what counts are the choices we make on our journey of faith. This is very radical, considering the Jewish faith considered non-Jews to be unclean and to be individuals with which they are not to have contact. Think of the persecution and the ostracism that many in the Early Church felt, with some of this coming from their own biological family. Often, there was a lot of superstition, fear, and pressure from these family members. But with the values that Jesus proposes in today’s Gospel, he sees Christianity as a new order, a new family. Our family of faith does not pretend to be perfect. It certainly has its flaws. But our family is here to support us, to lead us, to guide us, to help us grow and learn and journey together. And we are to be supportive, active members of this family of faith, as well.
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