We are Jesus’ Mother and Brothers

It really touches my heart the Gospel pericope from St Michael when Jesus’ mother and brothers asked to speak to Jesus. Here is the Matthean version of the episode:

While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him.But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and 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 Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother” (Matt 12:46-50).

How beautiful and radical is Jesus’ reply! He is practically saying that obedience and yielding to God’s saving will are the true mark of being close to him. To be one with Jesus means to abide in the Father’s love by following Jesus’ commandments. He told us: As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you; abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love (John 15:9-10).

Let us make all of us St Faustina’s prayer, as we find in her Diary number 1356, regarding this very important point in our life, that of doing God’s will:

O my God, I am ready to accept Your will in every detail, whatever it may be. However You may direct me, I will bless You. Whatever You ask of me I will do with the help of Your grace. Whatever Your holy will regarding me might be, I accept it with my whole heart and soul, taking no account of what my corrupt nature tells me. Amen.

Fr Mario Attard OFM Cap