Gospel Reading: Mt 12:46-50
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my 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.”
WHOEVER DOES THE WILL OF MY HEAVENLY FATHER
In Mt 11–12, we have seen the opposition to Jesus expand and intensify. John the Baptist has doubts; the general populace is intrigued, but unrepentant; now, the authorities have accused Jesus of being a tool of Satan and are actively planning his death. Is there anyone left in Jesus’ camp? Perhaps Jesus can count on his family; after all, blood is thicker than water. Almost as if on cue, as the hostility towards Jesus surges, his mother and brothers suddenly appear on the edge of the crowd asking to speak to him. Matthew does not tell us what is on their minds; that is not what interests him. What concerns him is Jesus’ startling response. “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” Jesus asks. Then, pointing toward his disciples, he announces, “Here are my mother and my brothers” (vv 48-49). Yes, Jesus is the son of Mary, but what is more definitive for him is that word spoken at his baptism, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Mt 3:17). He is God’s Son, and his family is not bound to bloodlines but is open to all.
“This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him” (Mt 17:5).
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SOURCE: “366 Days with the Lord 2016,” ST. PAULS Philippines, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.