Daily Mass Gospel Reflection - Family Of God

Word on Fire Ministry ^ | 7.19.22 | Bishop Robert Barron

[MurphsLaw]

SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

MATTHEW 12:46–50

Friends, in today’s Gospel, someone tells Jesus,
“Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.”
Jesus stretches his hand toward his disciples and says,
“Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my
brother, and sister, and mother.”

Family is wonderful. There is nothing in the world wrong with fostering the flourishing of your family.
But over and again, the Bible places the goods of the world into
question—even something as good as family relationships.

Why? Because family isn’t God.
It is not that which you should serve with your whole heart;
it doesn’t belong in the center of your life.

Is family the point around which most of your energies revolve?
Is it your primary focus as you make your way through the day?
Are there times when you feel your family obligations competing with the will of God?

Then remember Jesus’ words:
“Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? . . .
Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father.”

[MurphsLaw]

+++While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers appeared outside,
wishing to speak with him.
Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are
standing outside,
asking to speak with you.”
But he said in reply to the one who told him,
“Who is my mother? 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 heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister, and mother.”+++