Word to the Wise
Tuesday, January 29, 2008 - Tuesday in the Third Week of Ordinary Time
[2 Samuel 6:12B-15, 17-19 and Mark 3:31-35]"Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
In the area where I grew up in North Louisiana (and I suspect this is true almost anywhere in the country) we have an expression: "kissing kin" or "shirt tail kin." It means that we consider a person "family" even if they aren't "blood kin." We may even call them "Uncle" or "Aunt" or "Cousin!" The relationship may come about because of friendship or because some distant relative married them, etc.etc. These bonds can become quite strong - as strong as the natural family bond. In the middle east, the family bond is more than personal, it is societal. A person is expected to be completely loyal to tribe, clan and family. There is an entitlement that is assumed in this! It explains why Jesus' family was concerned about him. They could not understand what he was doing. They were going to try to seize him (as we saw in the gospel several days ago). Jesus makes it clear that "kinship" or other entitlement is not what makes a person "kin" to him. It is the one who does the will of God who is a member of the family of God. In our land, we have a fairly sensitive (and some would say "exaggerated") notion of entitlement. Frequently we hear the expression, "I have a right to........" Jesus makes it clear that family or other entitlement is not the ultimate criteria for salvation. It is a gift from God freely offered to everyone. Our acceptance of it and living in accord with it is what makes us Jesus' kin. This is true from Pope to pauper. Jesus rejected all claims to entitlement from his family as well as his disciples! The Lord doesn't give us anything out of a sense of indebtedness. It is love and love alone. If we want to be in God's family, we must accept that love and put skin on it. AMEN
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