When Jesus rejects his mother and his siblings, we’re left wondering: wasn’t Jesus a family man?
When taken out of context, this passage sounds strange.
It sounds as if Jesus was rejecting his mother, the very person we adore and call the Mother of God and Theotokos. It sounds as if he’s replacing blood relatives with this strange, motley crew he’s assembled.
As we know, Jesus is the most family-oriented person there is. In fact, he’s so pro-family that he’s reorienting our views of family.
In Jesus’s day, the Judean concept of family became a form of nationalism. This, in turn, created tension between the Judeans and Gentiles.
It was a “us versus them” situation, and this nationalism got in the way of the gospel.
Jesus was extending the family, making sure that everyone who embraces the gospel through a change of heart can be called a child of God.
This transcends nationalism and political boundaries. Jesus reorients our views of family so that we can all be one.
The Reading
Now no one, having lit a lamp, covers it with a vessel or places it beneath a couch; rather he places it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not become manifest, nor is anything secret that will not certainly be made known and come into the open. Take care, therefore, how you listen: For whosoever has, to him it will be given; and whosoever does not have, even what he seems to have will be taken from him.” And his mother and brothers came to him, and were unable to come near to him because of the crowd. And it was reported to him: “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wishing to see you.” But in reply he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those hearing the word of God and doing it.” (Luke 8:16-21)
Thank Christ who has enabled me.