[PetroniusMaximus]

"He is saying that the Church is more important than our own blood kin."

Which it is, being that it's association is spiritual and eternal and flesh and blood is temporal.

But you still can't get around the other part.

[RobbyS]

The following is the 2nd Reading for the Feast of the Immaculate conception. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, 2 4 as he chose us in him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before him. In love 5 he destined us for adoption to himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of his will, 6 for the praise of the glory of his grace that he granted us in the beloved. 11 In him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the one who accomplishes all things according to the intention of his will, 12 so that we might exist for the praise of his glory, we who first hoped 3 in Christ.

[RobbyS]

Mary was the first Christian.