"If you read your Dante, you will see what we mean by "closer.""
Dante is political/theologial satire. It isn't scripture.
And the verse in view damages the uniqueness of the position of Mary. Mary is right there. Jesus does not point people to her, but directs their attention to doing the will of God.
No, he is doing something very radical in the context of middle eastern cultures. He is saying that the Church is more important than our own blood kin.