In the gospel today, we are given an episode where Jesus is asked to prioritize his earthly family, his mother and brothers, over his divine mission. At first glance, it may seem as if Jesus is disrespecting his mother, Mary, by saying "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" But let us not be fooled. Jesus is not denying his love and devotion to his mother. Instead, he is redefining what it means to be a family.
If ever we can accept a redefinition of the traditional family, this would be it. In fact the traditional family has always been rooted in doing the will of the Father. In the first reading from the book of Micah, we are reminded of God's compassion and mercy towards his people because a relationship is present. God does not persist in anger forever but delights in clemency. He forgives our sins and shows us kindness precisely because we belong to him—to his family.
In the Responsorial Psalm, we pray for God's mercy and love, asking Him to restore us and abandon his displeasure against us. We are reminded that God's anger will not last forever and that He desires to give us life and have His people rejoice in Him, but it means that we listen to his commands, and do as he desires, because ultimately he asks these things of us for our own good and we are able to grow strong in virtuous living and resolve.
In the Gospel, Jesus is telling us that true family is not defined by blood ties but by our relationship with God the Father. He says "Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother." This means that all those who follow Him, who do His will, become part of His family.
So, what does this mean for Mary, our Mother? Is Jesus rejecting her? No! Jesus is embracing her as part of His family because she has done the will of God the Father. She has been chosen by the Eternal Father to bear the Son of God, to raise Him with love and devotion. Her love for Him has been a reflection of God's love for us all.
Mary's role as mother is not diminished by Jesus' words; it is elevated. She is no longer just a biological mother but a spiritual mother to all who follow Jesus. She is a model of faithfulness and obedience to God's will.
Let us take away from this Gospel reading a deeper understanding of what it means to be a family in Christ. It is not about biological ties but about our relationship with God and our willingness to follow His will. May we strive to be part of Jesus' family, doing His will with love and devotion, just like Mary did.
May we remember that Mary is a Mother first and foremost, before all the other titles with which we adorn her in the Litany for example. Is she the Queen of Heaven? Most definitely. But first, she is the Mother of God. Is she the “House of Gold” that housed within her immaculately conceived womb the Eternal Son of God? Yes. But this is a reminder of how she is his Mother. Is she the Queen of the Apostles? Yes, but she is so because she led them, first and foremost, in doing the will of God.
Hence, let us allow her to lead us, for her joy and vocation has always been to love us and lead us to the will of God, to our Lord himself, who gave her to us from the cross in his most agonizing moment in life, so as to remind us of the preciousness of that gift – Our Lady, Mother of Mercy, and Mother of Love.
May she continue to be clement with us always, and pray for us, her children, who have recourse to her with faith.
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