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Matthew 12: 46-50 – Week 16 Ordinary Time, Tuesday (King James Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
46 ¶ While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him.
47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee.
48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren?
49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren!
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
We learn in Mark’s Gospel that Jesus’ friends are concerned about Jesus, thinking that he is beside himself, and intending to restrain him (Mark 3: 21). Shortly afterwards, in Mark’s Gospel, Mary and others of Jesus’ family make the journey recounted in today’s Gospel verses to try to see Jesus.
Jesus’ reaction may seem quite strange to us, and it has been said by some that these Gospel verses, together with other teachings of Jesus concerning the family, tell us that Jesus was to some extent alienated from his own family, that his mission had set Jesus at odds with his family, hence perhaps his moving some distance away.
It is important to think of the role of the extended family, or clan, in Jesus’ time when making sense of Jesus’ remarks in these verses. The family – the large family – was the basis for social living. It was through the family that values and identity were transmitted. The family constituted such security as people had. The family was at the heart of a prayerful relationship with God. And, through the family, one could come to own property.
It was through the various oppressions of the Jewish people, in terms, for example, of occupation, taxation and threats of violence, as through some absorption of a Hellenistic individualistic mentality, that families had tended to close in upon themselves, to look after their own interests at the expense of larger community. Religious prescriptions and proscriptions, the laws of ritual purity, similarly excluded many people from healthy community and family life. Many were marginalized: women, children, Samaritans, foreigners, lepers, possessed persons, tax collectors or publicans, the sick, mutilated persons and paraplegic persons. The concept of family needed opening, to become inclusive, to include all in God’s family, such that all might know they were and are accepted by God.
And so Jesus makes this grand gesture, using the opportunity of his mother’s and brothers’ visit to enlarge for all the notion of Christian family. All those present are privileged to be able to call Jesus their brother. This is no mere form of words. The love we have for Jesus is a family love. We now are a part of Jesus’ family. The change in life, the new life, this gives to us all is palpable. Our concept of family now is not exclusive; it is all inclusive. We experience the joy of being a part of Jesus’ family each day.
Concluding Prayer
Grant us, O Lord Jesus, to imitate faithfully the example of your Holy Family and to make our home another Nazareth.
May peace, love and happiness prevail.
Grant us the grace to be the children and the parents we should be.
Grant that our children may find solid support for their human dignity and for their growth in truth and love.
When the time comes for each of us to go to the everlasting home you have prepared for us, may your glorious Mother and St. Joseph take us to you, after the final grace of a happy death. Amen.
King James Audio Bible | Endnotes
We Are Family In Jesus Christ | Christian Truth
Matthew 12:46-50 is a Gospel passage speaking to the unique and profound relationship that believers share with Jesus Christ. In this passage, Jesus is approached by his mother and brothers, who are seeking to speak with him. Jesus responds by saying: ‘Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.’ (Matthew 12:48-50)
This passage is often used to emphasize the spiritual kinship that exists among believers, regardless of biological relationships. Jesus makes it clear that those who do the will of God are his family, and that familial bonds are not limited to blood relations. This idea of a spiritual family in Christ has been important throughout Christian history.
One of the earliest examples of this thought of Christian family can be found in the writings of the apostle Saint Paul. In his letter to the Galatians, Saint Paul writes: ‘For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus.’ (Galatians 3:26) Saint Paul emphasizes the idea that believers are united as children of God through their faith in Christ, rather than through biological relationships.
The thought of Christian family is developed in the writings of the Church Fathers. Saint Augustine wrote extensively on the concept of the Church as a spiritual family. In his book, The City of God, Saint Augustine writes: ‘The Church, therefore, is the people of God, who have been called according to his purpose and made partakers of his divine nature, and who are knit together in a unity of spirit and purpose which transcends all earthly ties.’ Saint Augustine emphasizes the spiritual unity that exists among believers, and sees the Church as a family bound together by their common faith in Christ.
This idea of a spiritual family is also reflected in Catholic teaching. The Catechism Of The Catholic Church states: ‘The Church is a family of God’s children, united in Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit.’ (CCC, 1655) The Catechism emphasizes the importance of the Church as a family, and the role of the Holy Spirit in bringing believers together in spiritual unity.
Protestant theologians have also emphasized the idea of a spiritual family in Christ. Martin Luther wrote: ‘The Church is a spiritual, holy, and divine family, built up of living stones, and united in Christ as their head.’ Luther emphasizes the spiritual unity that exists among believers, and the importance of Christ as the head of this spiritual family.
That we are a spiritual family in Christ continues to be vital to Christian thought. Pope Francis has spoken extensively on the importance of unity among believers. In his encyclical Fratelli Tutti, Pope Francis writes: ‘We are all brothers and sisters. The pandemic has reminded us that no one is saved alone. What ties us to one another is what we commonly call “humanity”.’ Pope Francis emphasizes the importance of unity among believers, and sees this unity as essential to the Christian faith.
Furthermore, the concept of spiritual family in Christ is not limited to theological discussions or religious authority figures; it is also a lived experience among believers. Christian communities and churches provide a space for believers to come together and experience the bonds of a spiritual family. In this way, the concept of spiritual family is not just an abstract idea, but a tangible reality for many believers.
The idea of being a spiritual family in Christ has practical implications for how Christian believers are called to live our lives. In the passage from Matthew, Jesus links spiritual kinship with doing the will of God. This suggests that living in accordance with God’s will is a central aspect of being part of the spiritual family of Christ. Indeed, Jesus makes this connection explicit in other passages as well. In John 15:14, Jesus says: ‘Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.’ Here, the concept of friendship is used to describe the relationship between Jesus and his followers, and this friendship is based on obedience to Christ’s commands.
This idea of obedience as a key aspect of spiritual family is reflected in 1 John 2:3-4, which says: ‘And hereby we do know that we know him, if we keep his commandments. He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.’ This passage emphasizes the importance of obedience to Christ’s commands as a sign of true spiritual kinship.
The commandment to love one another is central to our being spiritual family in Christ. In fact, the apostle John goes so far as to say: ‘If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?’ (1 John 4:20)
Thus, the concept of spiritual family in Christ has practical implications for how believers are called to live their lives. It emphasizes the importance of obedience to Christ’s commands and love for one another as essential aspects of spiritual kinship. This is not an abstract idea, but a lived reality for many believers. In the Church, believers find a spiritual family where they can experience the bonds of love and unity that come from being part of the family of Christ.
Jesus’ Ministry has entered into a time of conflict, during which people begin to react against Jesus’ teachings, despite the many and beautiful miracles he has performed. In today’s Bible verses, the Pharisees accuse Jesus and his disciples of breaking the Sabbath. Jesus defends himself, justifying his actions, and in doing so suggests both his own divinity and a greater dignity for all people than that which the Pharisees can admit [ … ]
Christian Art | Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible KJV The Gospel Of Saint John 14: 1-7 | King James Audio Bible YouTube: Connection With The Life Of Jesus In The Gospels | King James Audio Bible The Gospels are not just a collection of stories or teachings, but a window into the life of Jesus. By reading and reflecting on the Gospels, we gain a deeper understanding of who Jesus was and what he came to do. As we read the Gospels, we see that Jesus was a man of great compassion and love. Jesus showed mercy to the outcasts and the marginalized, and he offered healing and hope to those who were in need. He also taught with authority, challenging the religious leaders of his day and offering a new way of living based on love and service. But the Gospels are not just a history lesson. They are also an invitation for us to enter into a relationship with Jesus. By reading and meditating on the Gospels, we can come to know Jesus more personally and deeply. We can learn from his example and seek to follow in his footsteps. So we may be encouraged to read the Gospels, perhaps starting with the Gospel of Mark or the Gospel of John, as we read paying attention to how Jesus interacted with others and how he responded to different situations. We may ask ourselves what you can learn from his words and actions, and how we can apply them to our own lives. And as we read, we can allow ourselves to be drawn into a closer relationship with Jesus. There truly is an historical Jesus. May the Gospels be a source of guidance, inspiration, and transformation for us all. How Much In The Gospels Is Historical, And How Much Is Myth, Legend, Trope, Figurative Thinking? It is difficult to say with certainty how much of the Gospels is historical in the modern sense of the word and how much is myth, legend, trope, or figurative thinking. The Gospels were written some years after the events they describe, and they were written from the perspective of the early Christian community. This means that the Gospels may contain a mix of historical facts and interpretation, as well as elements of myth, legend, and figurative thinking. That being said, scholars believe that the Gospels contain a good deal of historical information. For example, the Gospels describe specific places and events, such as the places where Jesus preached and the events of his trial and Crucifixion. These details suggest that the writers of the Gospels had access to historical information and intended to provide an accurate account of what happened. On the other hand, the Gospels also contain elements that are not seen by all as historical, howsoever this goes to the root of the faith, such as the miracles performed by Jesus and the accounts of his resurrection. Some see these as legends or myths that were added to the Gospels to help convey the message of the early Christian community. The question of how much of the Gospels is historical and how much is myth, legend, or figurative thinking is complex. What is important is that we approach the Gospels with an open mind and a willingness to engage with the stories and teachings they contain. We are in the Gospels in conversation with God – and with the many people who have had such faith and conversations – as with the historical Jesus. Why Do The Gospels Say Were People Afraid Of Jesus? There are several reasons why people may have been afraid of Jesus, according to the Gospels. One reason is that Jesus was a powerful and charismatic figure who challenged the religious and political authorities of his time. He spoke out against corruption and injustice, and he called on people to repent and turn to God. This type of behaviour was seen as threatening by those in positions of power, and they may have been afraid of losing their influence or authority. Another reason is that Jesus performed many miracles, such as healing the sick and casting out demons. These miracles were seen as evidence of his divine power, and they may have made people afraid of him. Some people may have been afraid of being healed or possessed by Jesus, while others may have been afraid of what would happen if they did not believe in him. Finally, some people may have been afraid of Jesus because of the prophecies and expectations of the coming of a messiah. The Jews of Jesus’ time were looking for a saviour who would deliver them from oppression and establish a kingdom of God on earth. When Jesus arrived on the scene, he may have been seen as a threat to the status quo, and some people may have been afraid of what he might do. Might The Fear Be Related To The Fear Of God – The Injunction To Fear God? Yes, it is possible that the fear of Jesus mentioned in the Gospels may be related to the fear of God. In the Old Testament, the fear of God is often used to describe a deep reverence and awe for God, as well as a sense of humility and obedience in the face of his greatness. This fear of God is seen as a positive and necessary quality for a faithful believer, and it is often linked to the idea of fearing God’s punishment or judgement. In the New Testament, the fear of God is also mentioned, but it is often portrayed in a more positive light. For example, in the Gospel of Luke, Jesus tells his followers not to be afraid of those who can only kill the body, but to fear God, who can destroy both body and soul (Luke 12:4-5). This suggests that the fear of God is not just about punishment, but about a deep respect for […]
In the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prays and struggles desperately with the weight of his coming Crucifixion. He sweats blood – he is in agony. Jesus enters into his Passion fully cognizant of the horror of it [ … ]
