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Take Jesus at his Word - October 08 |
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Dear Friends of the Word,
Jesus first began travelling around preaching the message of the Kingdom of God when he was about 30. Before that, he had a relatively normal life with his relatives in Nazareth. He began by preaching in all the local villages around the Sea of Galilee, and quickly became famous. People would travel from far away in huge numbers to hear and experience him. Jesus was often so busy he didn’t even have the time to stop and eat with his disciples.
For the family oriented culture Jesus came from, this change was hard to accept. Family was considered top priority and Jesus had a big extended family. Rather than spending time with them like he used to, Jesus was going out into the wider world. They felt abandoned, that he no longer had time for them. Of course, they were aware of what is happening around Jesus, and how special he was. But his behaviour was considered outrageous and abnormal in their culture. The normal course of their lives had been disturbed and they were not enthused about so much upheaval and spectacle. Mark writes in his gospel, "When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, 'He has gone out of his mind.' "
Mary however, knew better. She understood, like every mother knows in a special way, that her child was not a possession of hers. He had only been entrusted to her by God – like every child is entrusted to its mother. Mary said ‘yes’ to the angel of God so that God's son could become one of us. However, she had trouble convincing the rest of her clan that this was Jesus’ mission; to spread Gods message to the whole world and not to remain with them in their community. When she couldn’t make them understand, they went to see Jesus’ teaching themselves, to confront him and bring him home. They found themselves at the front of a house where Jesus is debating with some Pharisees. The house was too full of people to go inside, so Jesus' family sent him the message: "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you."
Jesus' replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?". This would have left his relatives dumbfounded, possibly even more furious. This would have felt like a betrayal, a slap in the face. However, Jesus goes on to explain, "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
Jesus was moving on from the restricting ties of earthly blood relations, he was looking for the NEW FAMILY of God. We are not born into this family, but this family is given to us in baptism and according to the will of God. The revolutionary thing about Jesus' new family is that God is father and all of us are brothers and sisters – united in the search for the father's will; understanding it and acting on it. The will of the father is for us to love, and to recognize our brother and our sister in every human being. No matter which skin colour or race, whether elderly or child, whether man or woman, whether famous or unknown – God says: You belong to me! You are my child and I love you!
Dear friends of the word, the more this message touches and fills our hearts, as the new family of God develops and grows. Let us live this month, by trying to see our sister and our brother in every person. And when we are together, let us ask: “Father, what is your will for this moment and how can we help it come true!”
For the OnWordTeam
Meinolf Wacker (adapted by Sandhurst Youth Ministry) |
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Prayers and Reflections 
