The True Kindred of Jesus

Then his mother and his brethren came to him, but they could not reach him for the crowd.
And he was told, “Your mother and your brethren are standing outside, desiring to see you.”
But he said to them, “My mother and my brethren are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Today’s Gospel reading are these 3 sentences and are wide open to be understood in so many ways… So I asked myself, whom do I call family? Those whom I am related to in some way, also those around whom I have grown up with/around, and also those whom I cherish for various reasons. I definitely put weight on a mix of those whom I have grown up with/around and cherish for various reasons. But the underlying connection is “relationship.” If I have related to people, and they are more closer to me, than those whom I seldom interact with. If I have shared moments with people, even if they be once, but where I have been able to connect, then those who I may relate with everyday, and yet the relationship is mechanical, because there is no personal level of interaction. Some may say, those who share my ideas and belief are my family. Jesus puts it differently, everyone in the world is His family, but his relationship with each one is seen in the way they engage Him in interaction. Some may pray to Him everyday, but not wait to listen to what he has to say. Others may come to Him seeking a relationship, but yet keep Him at yards length with conditions He needs to meet (maybe on a sub-conscious level). But Jesus says  that His relationship in the fullest sense can be seen in those who who come to Him, speak to Him, wait and listen and live by what he directs them.

Mary is indeed the truest disciple of Jesus, not because she is His mother. But she is the one who took His words, and pondered and reflected on them. Hence she was able to guide Him at the Wedding Feast of Cana, when he was undecided when to start His ministry. She knew because she shared His Life and Mission through pondering, reflecting and living of His life. Therefore she could confidently tell the servants, do whatever He instructs you.

Salvation is all about having relationship with Jesus. He is the Bridegroom and the Church is His Bride, therefore He can present her to His Father as His. The Church bears His name, and therefore is saved. If you do not engage Jesus on a personal level, you will not be able to relate to him on the communitarian level of Church. How then will He be able to introduce us to His Father…