Wednesday Advent 2 - Mark 3:20-34

Today’s lesson is a lesson about family.

What is a family? We all know the answer to this question, but at its heart a family is a group of people who are related to one another. The most immediate kind of family is, of course, the biological families we live in. But the notion of family is larger than what we often think it is. For example, my brother and his wife have adopted two bi-racial children. Are these precious children part of their family – and mine? Of course! In ancient times, family was more than just the nuclear family but included a complex extended family of grandparents, aunts and uncles, servants, and others.

Since the idea of family is all about people who are related, we should all be keenly interested in learning about the family of Jesus. We learn a few things about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus’ brothers throughout the Gospels (and some things about James in Acts and James), and each fact we have about them is to be treasured.

But as important as Joseph and Mary are in the Nativity narratives of Matthew and Luke, Mark doesn’t tell us about this. The first thing we hear about Jesus’ family in Mark’s Gospel is that “His own people” (verse 21) think He’s out of His mind. We’re not sure exactly who “His own people” were, but it’s likely to have included his unbelieving brothers (at that time) and possibly people from the region around Nazareth. We know from verse 31 that his mother and brothers came and sent to Jesus, calling for Him.

And then something surprising happens. When Jesus is told that his mother and brothers are waiting outside for Him, He doesn’t run to greet them or immediately and enthusiastically send for them, and He doesn’t say, “Behold the Queen of Heaven!” Instead, He amazes us (as He always does) by asking, “Who is My mother, or My brother?” Looking around in a circle at those who sat about Him, He said, “Here are My mother and My brother! For whoever does the will of God is My brother and My sister and mother.”

This is the meaning of family, in the divine sense. Regardless of how many human families, clans, tribes, or nations we may count, there are really only two human families. There are only two basic relationships to God: disciples who believe and obey, and those who reject God and disobey.

Jesus’ teaching about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit makes more sense when placed next to His teaching about His family. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the one unforgivable sin because it is a willful rejection of the ministry of the Holy Spirit who testifies about the Son and the Father.

While Satan’s kingdom may indeed be divided, the Kingdom of Heaven, the family of God which is the Church, is united. In spite of our family differences and separations, we are one, holy family, united in Jesus Christ. The reason Jesus can look around at His disciples and say that they are His brothers and sisters and mother is because He is saying that they are now His family. At this point, Jesus had more in common with some of these anonymous disciples than He did with James, Joses, Simon, and Judas (see Matthew 13:55), who apparently did not yet believe (John 7:5.)

Just as blasphemy against the Holy Spirit leaves one outside of God’s family, a faithful response to the Holy Spirit makes one a member of God’s family. Through the Holy Spirit, all who are true disciples are of the Body and Blood of Christ. Genetically, my flesh and blood is related to Jesus only in that we both proceeded from Noah. But spiritually, I am His kinsman, and I partake of His Body and Blood. He dwells in me, and I in Him (there’s that perichoresis again!)

How blessed to be put in the same category as Mary herself, who first received Jesus into her heart and then was made a member of His family. She was called “highly favored one” and “blessed,” and now so are all who have faith in Him, for we are part of His family, partakers of His Body and Blood.

I am thrice blessed: my family growing up was a loving one and one who were disciples of Jesus Christ; my own family now are disciples of Jesus Christ and are learning to live in love; and I am also part of God’s own family. How blessed someone like me is when my biological family is also my theological family – to have parents, siblings, a spouse, and children who all share the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ!

How blessed as well to think that all of you who are reading this are my brothers and sisters because through Jesus Christ God is the Father of us all and we have been adopted into His heavenly family!

Christ in us, the fact that we are the brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, is an inexhaustible mystery. As His disciples, keep gathering around in a circle around Him to listen as He speaks. Like Mary, treasure these things up in your heart and receive them with wonder, awe, and everlasting thanksgiving.

Prayer: My soul magnifies You, Lord, and my spirit rejoices in You as my Savior. For you have regarded my low estate and have called me blessed through my relationship with Your Son. Holy is Your name. Praise be to You forever and ever. Amen.

Resolution and Point for Meditation:
I resolve to take some time today to ponder the mystery of Christ in me and of my being a member of the family of God through Christ.

© 2008 Fr. Charles Erlandson