19 Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not
reach him for the crowd. 20 And he was told, "Your
mother and your brothers are standing outside, desiring to see you."
21 But he said to them, "My mother and my brothers are
those who hear the word of God and do it."
Meditation: Do your relationships help you or hinder you in living
for God? God did not intend for us to be alone, but to be
with others. He gives us many opportunities for developing relationships
with family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers. Why does Jesus seem
to ignore his own relatives when they pressed to see him? Jesus never lost
an opportunity to teach his disciples a spiritual lesson or truth about
the kingdom of God. On this occasion when many gathered to hear Jesus
he pointed to another and higher reality of spiritual kinship, namely the
family of God. An early martyr once said that "a Christian's only relatives
are the saints." Those who follow Jesus Christ and who seek the will
of God enter into a new family, a family of "saints" here on earth and
in heaven. Jesus changes the order of relationships and shows that
true kinship is not just a matter of flesh and blood. Our adoption
as sons and daughters of God transforms all our relationships and requires
a new order of loyalty to God and his kingdom. Paul the Apostle warns
us to not form friendships with those whose influence would lead us into
sin and unfaithfulness (see Ephes. 5:7). We certainly must pray for
them, seek their good, and look for ways to witness the joy of the gospel.
True friendship for a Christian should strengthen us in our love for God
and for neighbor. Do you seek the company of godly friends and advisors
and do you look for ways to help others grow in the knowledge and wisdom
of God and his will for their lives?
"Heavenly Father, you bless us with family and friends, both spiritual
and natural. Help me to love them with charity and
grace. May I always prefer your will and seek to do what is right
and good in all my relationships."