Normally on the day of ordination, parents or guardians walk the person to be ordained up to the bishop, they do a ritual of handing him over. Simple as that may appear, but it has great significance in both the life of the one to be ordained as well as his parents. He leaves his family of origin and surrenders to the authority of the bishop a representative of the wider spiritual family; to serve all as he shares in Jesus’ priesthood. For the parents, it’s an act of letting go and not holding on, much less the generosity of offering their child to God.
Embracing Our Brothers and Sisters
In today’s gospel we have the mother and relatives who want to see Jesus, probably to whisk him away back home, thinking he is out of it. Jesus does not go out to meet them instead he declares that those seated around him, more so those willing to do the will of his Father, are his mother, brothers and sisters. It must have been difficult for Jesus’ blood family to watch him slip away from their control, to embrace a new spiritual family. Jesus no longer belonged to his Mother or to the rest his family of origin. He now belonged to a much larger family. This new family was defined by its relationship to him and to God the Father.
God's Family
The point of reflection for us is that;
- Jesus is not distancing himself from his biological family. Rather, he wanted to use this moment to provide a new teaching to his disciples. He points to another higher reality of “Relationship” That is, the relationship with God the Father and how it is to shape our lives as his disciples.
- He is inviting us into a new family, characterized by a relationship of trust, commitment, faithfulness, protection, mercy, and forgiveness. He offers us a relationship embedded in union of heart, mind and spirit with himself, who is the author and source of love.
- In this new relationship we are free to choose to separate ourselves from him, but nothing will make him ignore us or leave us or treat us unkindly. For his love is consistent, unwavering, unconditional and unstoppable.
- In this new relationship, we are all brothers and sisters. Hence, we are called to give and receive support to other members of the family. We are a family under God as the Father.
- One way of giving an expression to this new relationship is to pray for one another. According to Jesus teaching what really defines us and this new relationship, is our willingness to do the will of God, as he proclaimed it. That is why he gave us the greatest prayer, the Our Father .... thy will be done on earth and in heaven.
- Communal prayer is key to this relationship. That is why he instituted the eucharist for us the most important prayer for us Catholics
Just like Mary his mother and our mother we pray for the grace to learn to let go and to trust that God’s purpose will prevail in our lives and for those around us. For the Lord’s purpose is always greater than our own purposes for ourselves and others.
- Today’s Readings
- Father Fulgens' inspirational homily was recorded live during Mass at the Father Peyton Center this morning. You can view the Mass (and the Rosary at the 30-minute mark) on the Family Rosary YouTube page.
- To join the Rosary and Mass Livestream, visit the Family Rosary YouTube or Facebook page at 11:30 a.m. Eastern, Monday – Friday. Consider inviting others to join, too! (*If you are not a member of Facebook and a signup window appears, simply select the X at the top of the pop-up message and continue to the livestream.)
