Scripture Citation
“For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." (Mark 3:35)
In today’s Gospel, Jesus’ ministry is gaining intense popularity. The crowd is presented as an incessant group. Jesus and his disciples did not even have time to eat. The masses spoke during their time for rest and retreat.
Presumably, the individuals in the crowd each had their own reasons for following Jesus. Some came to oppose or accuse, some to learn, and others were simply curious. Some of the crowd were Jesus’ relatives coming to seize Him, saying He was “out of His mind.” Others present in the crowd were religious leaders who had a desire to accuse Jesus and likened Him to Satan. Picture yourself in the crowd. What might be the reason you are gathered?
Jesus' family finally arrives on the scene but cannot reach Him. The crowd around Jesus informs Him that his mother and brothers are outside asking for Him. Jesus replies, “‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking around at those seated in the circle, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” How wonderful would it have felt in that moment to be pointed out and included in Jesus’ family?
What must we do to gain access to the family of God? One doesn't gain access simply through being a part of the religious establishment like the scribes or by being a blood relative of Jesus. To do the will of God is a sign of our godly heritage. Membership in God's family comes through uniting ourselves to Christ. Those who are God's family are present with Jesus. They hear his call and respond in faith. Let us not attribute the works of Jesus to anything other than the powerful working of God, unlike the scribes and Pharisees thought. We must abstain from that which impedes his mission, including sin and distractions. Lastly, we must submit ourselves to the mission of Christ. There, we will find our household in God.
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