While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,
his mother and his brothers appeared outside,
wishing to speak with him.
It seemed as though his mother and cousins may have been content to wait patiently for an opportune time. It appeared that they did not attempt to interrupt but rather that it was an anonymous someone who was uncomfortable to see them wait while Jesus was speaking to the crowds.
Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside,
asking to speak with you.”
This person needed to learn that the crowd was receiving the one thing necessary and that perhaps what the relatives of Jesus desired was something of lesser importance and that could wait until a more convenient time.
Jesus had always asserted that the Kingdom should be the first priority, even before family. Anyone who preferred father or mother to him was not worthy of him. He did not permit would-be disciples to go back and bury their deceased relatives but insisted that they follow him immediately. His relatives appeared to get this already, and to already by committed to the Kingdom project. But this individual thought he saw important priorities of filial piety enshrined in the law of Moses being neglected and was made uncomfortable. Or at least that is the positive evaluation. He may have actually been trying to make Jesus look bad by this critique. But either way, there is perhaps us in how it would be difficult to answer such a one. We too as may be called to set other priorities to one side for the sake of the Kingdom. It may never be an entirely comfortable proposition at least until it becomes a virtuous habit.
“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.
These individuals who were with Jesus were also entitled to his love because of the fact that they were his spiritual family. It appeared that for the moment their supernatural needs for truth and life superseded the natural needs of his biological relatives. But this was no slight to his brothers or especially to his mother. The fact that they apparently had less need of him could only be because they had already put into practice doing the will of his heavenly Father. They, then, were already spiritually related to Jesus in addition to their blood connection. But this someone who spoke up and the rest of the crowd did not yet understand the possibility of being connected to Jesus in this way. And so the number one priority of the moment for Jesus was to teach them. No doubt Mary who brought Jesus himself into the world was actually delighted that he should have additional spiritual brothers and sisters. Her purpose was certainly, as ever, one with that of her son.
For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister, and mother.
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