Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50
While Jesus was talking to the people, his mother and his brothers wanted to speak to him, and they waited outside. So someone said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside; they want to speak with you.”
Jesus answered, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Then he pointed to his disciples and said, “Look! Here are my mother and my brothers. Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Reflections
“A brother and sister and mother to me.”
By inaugurating the reign of God, Jesus establishes a “new historical family” on Earth. This new family is characterized by faith in Jesus and doing God’s will.
Jesus is straightforward in saying that the doing of the will of the Father makes one a brother, a sister and a mother to him. It is the condition for becoming a member of this new family of faith. It needs to be said here that prior to having faith and the doing of God’s will is conversion. Conversion, or repentance, leads to following Jesus and living out God’s will. It is the passport to- ward a relationship with God and other people who have under- gone the same conversion.
The closest possible relationship one can have is determined by our biological make-up, that is, our blood relationship with our siblings and parents. In the new family of faith in kingdom of God, doing the will of God is the bond, the connection, which brings together all those who believe in Jesus and the gospel. Beyond familial relationship, it is the principle that brings us into a relationship with one another.
© Copyright Bible Diary 2019