Daily Reflection – 7/23/19
Sacred Scripture
While Jesus was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” (Matthew 12: 46-50)
Reflection
Jesus is giving us the very good news that we are family. His family.
How do we get to be in Jesus’ family? It is a gift given to us. We did not earn our way into God’s family. We become Christ’s brothers and sisters through the sanctifying grace we received at baptism. When we were baptized God came to live in our soul. He claimed us as His adopted children. From that moment on we became brothers and sisters to Christ and through Christ with each other.
We became God’s children, heirs to God’s eternal Kingdom—heaven. We are family. Jesus’ family. God’s family. Family with each other. That we are brothers and sisters in Christ, members of God’s family, has tremendous implications. It was a radical concept in Jesus’ day. It is a radical concept today.
If I lived thinking of every baptized person as my brother or sister, how would life be different?
How would my life be if I thought of them the same as I think of my children and grandchildren? The answer comes that I can treat each person I encounter today as my brother or sister—assuming that God is the Father of this family, Our family has golden rule standards all of us children are expected to live by; we are all loved unconditionally AND we are expected to act like we are formed by that love to be part of our family’s mission: to form each person in that love and to extend the family to eventually include everyone. I know I am loved. I know how to treat each family member with caring and respect.
I think that means that when I talk with each person today, I listen and respond with real love in my eyes, real warmth in my voice, and genuine willingness to put my concerns aside for the good of the other. I think it means that I am both honest and respectful when I express myself—as members of healthy families are.
I think it means I do my best to see each person today as if we live in the same household with the same parents—and God my Father is listening, Jesus my brother is watching, Mary my Mother is keeping tabs.
Prayer of The Day
Father, help me to remember all day that I may be the only face of You some people see today. Let my face be smiling and warm, my voice be tender and patient, and my actions be reflective of our family standards. I ask this in the name of Jesus, my brother, Amen.
Daily Note
To be a Christian, a disciple, is to enter into this new relationship with God and with others. All other bonds, including those of blood, take a second place or are to be understood in the light of this bonding to God first of all and above all.
