"Here are my mother and my brothers"
Matthew 12:46-50
The New Testament contains little mention of the family of Jesus except for Mary his mother, Joseph, the husband of Mary and protector of the Holy Family, Elizabeth, the cousin of Mary with her child John, Jesus' cousin.
Beyond that we can only assume they lived typical middle eastern Jewish customs of who family members were considered to be. Certainly, its obvious the Gospels were not written in 21st century English so it would be wrong to assume that words translated from the Scriptures into our language today would necessarily have the same understanding. We hear of that in today's Gospel passage about: "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside asking to speak with you."
Certain traditions of Christianity have no problem assuming that Jesus had siblings, born from Mary and Joseph after Jesus' birth. Yet, the Catholic Church has for centuries held to the perpetual virginity of Mary; she was virginal at the time of her marriage to Joseph, she herself states this in the scene of the annunciation in Luke's Gospel, and she remained virginal throughout her marriage to Joseph.
On a human level that may seem both impossible, unnecessary, and a bit strange considering their young age in particular. Yet, Mary was different from other women as the whole event of her conception was both mysterious and strange. There is nothing in the scriptures directly that speak to this belief but it has been a long held belief since the early Christian Church.
That being so, who are the "brothers" the Gospel speaks of today. We know Jesus' mother but what about the implication that his family and his brothers were wanting to speak to him. Extended family members, one tradition speaks of children of Joseph from a previous marriage before Mary, cousins from Mary's side of the family, but not biological brothers and sisters of Jesus. Middle eastern relationships were considered close and family-like according to out standards today.
Yet, the point of the Gospel this Tuesday is not about one's biological family but rather about who Jesus is to all humanity. His relationships are beyond one family and extend to all who would believe in him. We, as Christians, are born by water and Spirit, into the family of God. We speak of Jesus as the Son of God, therefore we are incorporated into his Divine family of the Trinity as brothers and sisters in Christ.
If we do his will and carry out our Christian discipleship in his name we are all brothers and sisters to one another and to Christ Jesus. Such a spiritual relationship enhances the natural relationships in our biological families. It binds us together in love and compassion.
We must pray for broken families and broken marriages for sure. Today, lift in prayer all those families whose relationships are strained. Lift up in prayer those single parents who heroically sacrifice for their children.
Faith in Christ can bind us together as one but it doesn't happen magically. We need one another and by God's grace we will recognize our spiritual family and thrive in his name.
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