[ Today's Readings ]
“Here are my mother and my brothers.For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”
Faith creates bonds which are stronger than blood. Why? Because relationships built on the love of God are built on something unshakable.
Can a woman forget her nursing child, that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you (see Isaiah 49:15).
This does not mean that human familial relationships do not have value. Of course they do. God created them. He commands us to honor our fathers and mothers. Paul reminds us that this is the first command with a promise attached, "that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land" (see Ephesians 6:2-3).
It is rather that the natural family is elevated to its true dignity by faith. When family members have faith the deepest purpose of the family is revealed.
I yearn to see you again, recalling your tears,
so that I may be filled with joy,
as I recall your sincere faith
that first lived in your grandmother Lois
and in your mother Eunice
and that I am confident lives also in you.
The bonds of blood are not bonds which can unite the whole world. The Jews and Gentiles remain forever separate according to that paradigm. It leaves some a strangers and aliens. But where blood becomes divisive faith has the power to unite.
So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God (see Ephesians 2:19).
God wants to unite all of mankind in one family. For this, bonds of blood are insufficient. But the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace (see Ephesians 4:3) that are based on faith can bring this about.
to Titus, my true child in our common faith
God makes us all children of one Catholic family through faith. He exalts and strengthens natural families even while joining them together in his transnational supernatural family.
Mary shows us the way to live family that is both natural and supernatural. She lives the natural affection and devotion toward her family perfected by her complete obedience to God.
What we receive in faith is inexhaustible. But to take full advantage of it we must continually revisit the source.
For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame
the gift of God that you have through the imposition of my hands.
For God did not give us a spirit of cowardice
but rather of power and love and self-control.
Our families are no longer islands of isolation in a cold and dispassionate world. We are cells in a larger body. We are moving together toward the one goal of sharing God's love with the entire world. This profound unity of purpose helps us to not be ashamed of our testimony to our LORD. We are moved to proclaim his marvelous deeds to all the nations.
Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name.
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