Lord, show us your mercy and love. — Psalm 85:8

Mass Readings: Micah 7:14-15,18-20 / Matthew 12:46-50

All in the Family

Today’s Gospel is the familiar, and at-first-glance troubling, story of Jesus seeming to be disrespectful to His mother. We know that’s not possible but . . . Jesus is speaking to the crowds and someone says His mom and other family members have shown up and want to talk to Him. You know what happens. He says whoever does the will of His heavenly Father is His “brother, and sister, and mother.”

How rude? No. Of course not. The best explanation I’ve heard is that Jesus was not excluding His family but was broadening His definition of it. He’s saying we can be a part of His family. That we can be His brother or His sister.

Prayer: Thank You, Jesus, for letting me join Your family.