Daily Reflection – 1/28/2020
Sacred Scripture
His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, “Your mother and your brothers [and your sisters] are outside asking for you.” But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and [my] brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. [For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:31-35)
Reflection
Where does it begin for you . . . your definition of faith, your statement of belief? May I suggest an answer? It is found in today’s Gospel.
Jesus defines both the family of God and that which it means to be part of God’s family. He creates a new family. He looks about at the faces that are sitting before Him in this house, and He says, “Here are My mother and My brothers.” He’s doing the unthinkable. He’s starting a new family, a new holy people without regard for family bonds.
Our relationship is now more meaningful, more substantial than the genetic bonds of physical family relationships. The Holy Spirit comes into the hearts and lives of men and women as the spirit of sonship, the spirit of adoption witnessing “with our spirits that we are the children of God; and if children then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Jesus Christ.”
There’s one more point and that is that Jesus defines the meaning of true family. Did you notice this verse “For whoever does the will of God, he is My brother and sister and mother?” It’s not who believes in me is my mother and brother and sister.’ No, He says. “Whoever does the will of God.”
What does that involve? Have we come to Christ? Let’s start there. Have we come to Christ? Have we come to Jesus “just as I am without one plea but that They blood was shed for me?” Have we come to Jesus as He bids us come to Him, with empty hands–not the doings of the law, not the trappings or our self-righteousness but taking Him and Him alone as our Lord and Savior?
And one more question: Is there an obedience in you because of what God has done for you in Jesus Christ that you want to give yourself entirely to Him? Every day we say, ‘Not my will, not my will, but Thy will be done.’ These are the marks of those who belong to Jesus family.
Do you belong to the family of Jesus? Are these your brothers and sisters more precious to you than any other relationship in all the world? If so, then there cannot be division amongst us. If so, we must continually seek to love our brother and sister instead of finding fault with our brother and sister. If so. we forgive. Forgive it all. Every hurt, every petty word, every insult to our sense of being. If so, we turn away from those who seek to stand us apart.
Prayer of The Day
May the Lord, through His love, seek my heart, mind and will so as to be more endeared to Him, emboldened by Him and entitled by Him. Entitled so that I can see my brother and sister around me.
Daily Note
The Lord reminds us why his family is heavenly and so unique. It is not based on race, patriotism or blood. It is based on faith, hope and love. The Lord’s family is comprised of those who seek God’s will in their lives and follow it faithfully. This is what defines, binds and holds together the Lord’s family.
So true. We are the family of God. He has blessed us so much. Praise His holy name forever. God bless you. Great post.
Thank you for following the blog. The more we hold each other, the less we are dragged down. Blessigs.