While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:46-50) 

In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks on the subject of familial relationships. When he is told that his mother and brothers want to speak with him, he takes the opportunity to teach those around him about the role of relationships within God’s family. Although we have important earthly familial relationships, these take on a different meaning within the context of the family of God. There is a higher order of relationships in heaven than on earth. Our relationship with God and those who belong to Him looks different than our relationship with our earthly family members. Since we are adopted sons and daughters of God, we are all brothers and sisters in heaven. In eternity, it is these spiritual relationships that take on the highest importance. All who have come to Christ belong to our family, and we should be willing to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters just as we are willing to lay down our lives for Christ. All those who belong to God were adopted as sons and daughters, just as we were adopted. We are also brothers and sisters to Christ himself, as we are sons and daughters to the Father, and these spiritual relationships are the foundation upon which we should orient our lives and actions. 

Copyright 2022 Jessica Tucker