25th Week in Ord. Time, Tuesday – 20th September 2022 — Gospel: Lk 8,19-21
Profound Relationship
The Lukan text that concerns the mother and brothers of Jesus is also found in Mark (3,21-22 and 3,31-35) and Matthew (12,46-50). But Luke narrates quite differently from both. In Mk 3,33 and Mt 12,48 Jesus asks who his mother and brothers are. However, in Luke Jesus does not ask this question, rather when he was told that his mother and brothers desire to see him, He plainly replied that his mother and brothers are those who “hear” the Word of God and “keep it”. Luke emphasizes positively here, because for Jesus, being a part of His spiritual family is much more important than any human relationship. Mark and Matthew project that Jesus seems to reject his physical family and choose instead the crowd or his disciples. Instead, Jesus promises a share in the family of God to all those who do like Mother Mary, open themselves to hearing God’s Word and then acting upon what they hear. This obedience is what has allowed Mary to give birth to the Son of God. The believers who belong to this family are not bound by blood but by faith and the sacraments. The spiritual family that unites through the water of Baptism is more profound than blood ties (1 Jn 3,1-2).
