Tuesday - 25th Week in Ordinary Time

Gospel – Luke 8:19-21

Family Matters

Holy Family, St Joseph Church, Nazareth

We are family
I got all my sisters with me
We are family
Get up everybody and sing

No (we), we don't get depressed
'Cause here's what we call our golden rule
Have faith in you and the things you do
You won't go wrong, oh no
This is our family jewel

Old song but the idea is worth hoping for!  What if we all really were a family? What if we all really treated each other as family?

Consider this!  A family member suffers an unexpected accident and cannot manage on their own; maybe it’s a son or a mom, a dear grandparent or a cherished father-in-law or a husband.  All at once, schedules are shelved and plans are dropped; life is suddenly put on hold as we seek to care for the sick/injured.  And it’s not just the family!  Friends and neighbors all come together to offer love and support, prayers and assistance.  Some prepare meals for the immediate family as they spend their days (and nights) at the bedside.  Others offer rides to the hospital or the doctor’s office.  All of a sudden the meaning of ‘family’ expands beyond that of blood.  All are family! 

And that is what Jesus is referring to in today’s Gospel.  In His time, the family was the primary source of welfare, food, clothing, shelter, health care and retirement.  You depended on family for everything!  And so Jesus is not disrespecting His own mother and family!  Rather he is expanding the meaning of family and reminding us that we are all God’s children.  And as such, we are all brothers and sisters in Christ.  We are all family, no matter the bloodlines or last names.  We are all called by our Baptism and our discipleship to care for each other, especially in times of sickness and difficulty!

Imagine this!  What if we woke up to a world where we actually treated everyone as family, as brothers and sisters!  News flash!  We are already one family, one family with Christ our Brother!  We just have a lot to learn about caring for each other as brothers and sisters.

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