GOSPEL, Matthew (12:46-50)

Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

The True Kindred of Jesus

⁴⁶ While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. ⁴⁷ Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” ⁴⁸ But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” ⁴⁹ And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ⁵⁰ For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

 The Gospel of the Lord

 

 REFLECTION

 

Divine Jesus became human to make us divine through his testimony of total surrender to his Father’s will. Daily, we are invited to review our Christian life, to see if we are proceeding correctly according to his mission implemented in John (10:10 ): “I came that they may have Life and have it in abundance.”

The text (Mt 12:46-50) explains to us a change in mentality in relation to the concept of family. At the interruption of one of Jesus’ listeners “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” (Mt 12: 47) Jesus defines a new concept of what is family: “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mt 12:50)

Many people had hostile reactions to Jesus’ teaching, or were indifferent but many listened to His sermons and became his disciples. On this occasion Jesus introduces a new concept to the disciples, calling into question the most intense and profound of human relationships.

Far from belittling Mary, his mother, she becomes the most accomplished image for every believer. Before she conceived Jesus in her womb, she had already conceived him in her mind, the moment she said yes to the divine plan, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.”  (Luke 1:38)

Mary is a model and guide for each of us. She is the believer who lived until the end of this journey.

Like her, let us be attentive to the Word of God, interiorizing it, moment by moment in our hearts and committing ourselves to collaborate in the Kingdom of God, thus expanding the true and new family of JESUS.

 

PRAYER

Thank you, Father, because Your Son Jesus taught us by his example to make the definitive choice for You and Your Kingdom! Amen.