Gospel Reflection For The 23rd day of July in the year of Our Lord, 2024

Gospel

Matthew 12:46-50

46 As he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. 47 And one said unto him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee. 48 But he answering him that told him, said: Who is my mother, and who are my brethren? 49 And stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he said: Behold my mother and my brethren. 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

This verse has caused quite a bit of confusion among Protestants. They first deny that the Blessed Virgin Mary was always a virgin, because it references Jesus' “brethren”. Unfortunately, very few Protestants are educated in the history of Christianity and Judaism and the languages used by Jesus. Our Lord mainly spoke Aramaic, while Hebrew would be used in more formal, religious settings. Regardless, the Jewish tradition was to refer to both siblings and cousins as brothers and sisters, and really any relative who was not an elder. Jesus' “brethren” were members of his extended family.

But then, they make an even greater mistake. Many claim that our Lord's reply shows that His blessed mother was in no way special. They claim that His intent was to say that His mother had no greater honor than anyone who does His will. This is the opposite of the true meaning of His words.

Through the sin of our first parents, man had lost His familial relationship with God. Through Christ, we are reconciled to God, but much more than that. He promises us adoption into the family of God. Our Lord and savior becomes our brother and His Heavenly Father becomes our Father! This is truly an astounding fact of our faith, that mere mortals could share in the divine nature of God. So, rather than saying that all were equally common, our Lord was promising that all could be blessed and raised to an unfathomable state that no human being can attain on his own.

More than that, as we are brothers and sisters of Christ, His mother is our mother. The Blessed Virgin Mary loves each of us as her own children. She is the greatest saint and the Queen of Heaven. Her Son will never deny her requests. Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!

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Judson Carroll is the author of several books, including his newest, A Daily Catholic Devotional, Reflections on the Daily Mass Readings July-December, 2024 It is Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D3ZTXQB4

and

Confirmation, an Autobiography of Faith. It is also Available in paperback on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C47Q1JNK

His new podcast is The Uncensored Catholic https://www.spreaker.com/show/the-uncensored-catholic