Tuesday, January
29, 2002
3rd Week in Ordinary Time
1st
Reading: 2 S 6:12-15, 17-19
Gospel: Mk 3:31-35
Jesus
mother and brothers came. As they stood outside, they sent someone to
call him. The crowd sitting around Jesus told him, "Your mother and
your brothers are outside asking for you." He replied, "Who
are my mother and my brothers?"
And looking around at those who sat there he said, "Here are my mother
and my brothers. Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and
mother to me."
Commentary
In Hebrew any relative is called "brother" or "sister."
In the Old Testament we find more than five hundred examples where the
word "brother" signifies a fairly close relationship. The Church
never doubted that Mary was a virgin and that Jesus was her only son.
We all move in our lifetime from our own family towards the creation of
another family, or community. The new family of Jesus has its foundation
not in blood but in faith: "Whoever does the will of God is brother
and sister and mother to me." People from all races, cultures and
nations are invited to be part of the new family of God. When we commit
ourselves to God's work, we discover new brothers and sisters and a mother,
Mary, the one who believed "that God's promises would be fulfilled."