Reflection:
In our Gospel reading, a person in the crowd listening to Jesus tells him that his mother and brothers are outside waiting to see him. And Jesus gives what might have been seen to be a curious reply: “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” People might have expected Jesus to stop what He was doing, excuse Himself from the crowd and go outside to see them. But he does not, at least not right away.
I don’t think Jesus intends to insult his mother and his relatives. But he does give to the crowd another view of discipleship. He is talking about his disciples having a relationship with him that challenges them to go beyond blood or tribal connections.
Anyone who wants to have a closer relationship with Jesus is called to more and more act on the word of God that he or she has heard.
At this point, Jesus cannot go back home. He has to continue on to Jerusalem and fulfill the Father’s plan of salvation. In a similar way, when we’ve entered into a relationship with Jesus, we cannot go back into seeing those considered to be “other” as enemies or less than human. Rather, out of our relationship with Jesus, we are called to see others as beloved of God, and act on the commandment to love one another.
The reward of having a relationship with Jesus is not only the promise of eternal life, but a serenity and peace in this life that the world cannot give. May we all be hearers and doers of the Word.
