MONDAY; 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B

TUESDAY; 3RD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME – YEAR B

THEME: Embracing Our Spiritual Relatives

BY: Fr. Obinna Ezeaputa

In today’s gospel reading (Mark 3:31–35), Jesus is told that his family is outside looking for him. But Jesus responds, “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! Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother.”

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Jesus is not rejecting his biological family but rather expanding the definition of family to include all those who do the will of God (CCC 533). It is in line with his teaching that “whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, sister, and mother” (Matthew 12:50).

Additionally, this understanding of family is rooted in the Hebrew Bible, where God says, “I will be a father to you, and you shall be my sons and daughters” (2 Corinthians 6:18, citing 2 Samuel 7:14). It is a powerful message for us today.

As followers of Christ, our understanding of family transcends biological ties. Our family consists of all those who share our faith and strive to live according to God’s will. As a result, our family is a large and diverse community that shares a belief in Jesus Christ as the Son of God.

Let us reflect on our own lives and ask ourselves: Who is our family? Do we limit our understanding of family to our biological relatives, or do we embrace the broader family of God’s children?

May we embrace this expansive understanding of family and nurture our relationships with our spiritual siblings, united in our pursuit of God’s kingdom. May we strive to live according to God’s will and build relationships with our spiritual family, united in faith and love. Amen.

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