Expanding Jesus' Family

July 16, Memorial of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel

Readings for the Memorial:

    First Reading:              Zechariah 2:14-17

    Responsorial Psalm:   Luke 1:46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55

    Gospel:                        Matthew 12:46-50

Word count: 250

Reading speed:    

    Slow (100 wpm): 2.5 minutes
    Average (130 wpm): 1.9 minutes
    Fast (160 wpm): 1.6 minutes

In our Gospel today, Jesus reveals to us the inner significance and meaning of the motherhood of Mary - and through that relationship, He includes all of us to the “family circle” of God.

"Who is my mother and who are my brothers?" Stretching out hand to his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

Through these comments said in response to the crowd, Jesus was not belittling His relationship with His mother; rather, He was giving it a deeper meaning of her motherhood and expanding it.

This for me is a strong foundation of the understanding of the Theotokos, that Mary is the Mother of God in Spirit and in Truth. Her being the earthy mother of Jesus is in obedience to the will of God.  She did God’s will and so she became the mother of the Son of God.

It was through this kind of motherhood of Mary that  Jesus expanded His family to all of us, that we too can be members of His Divine family.  He said, “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother."

When we do the will of God, we bind ourselves into an eternal relationship with the Holy Trinity, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We actually become members of the "family" of God; we become "mother" "sister" and "brother" to the Lord. 

Fr. Joel R. Lasutaz, SSS

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