Who is this king of glory? It is the Lord! — Psalm 24:8

Mass Readings: 2 Samuel 6:12-15,17-19 / Mark 3:31-35 

Extended, Not Excluded 

“Who are my mother and brothers?” At best, these words of Jesus from today’s Gospel sound overly casual; at worst, they seem callous. What could Jesus have meant by such a response? A closer look at verses 34 and 35 shows that Jesus was not excluding His biological family, but rather, extending His definition of family to include many, many more than simply blood relatives. 

God’s family is inclusive because all are welcome; yet, there is a sense in which it is exclusive because it demands loyalty to God above all others. When St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622) rejected a marriage arranged by his family, deciding instead to become a priest, he faced bitter opposition. Yet, Francis stood firm in his commitment to the Lord; and ultimately, his deep spirituality won over his family. 

Prayer: Precious Lord, help me to love You first, best, and above all others.