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The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to
join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your
brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to
them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the
word of God and act on it.” Luke 8:19–21
The term “brothers” in this passage is obviously not to be
understood that Jesus had blood brothers. It is a dogma of our
faith that Jesus was the only Child of Mary. At that time, it was
common practice to refer to one’s extended family as “brothers.”
This would have especially applied to Jesus’ cousins and perhaps
even those who were unrelated by blood but were from the same
village.
As these relatives of Jesus stood outside and announced their
presence, what did they expect Jesus to do? His “brothers” might
have been there to try to talk some sense into Him. We know from
other passages in the Gospels that some of Jesus’ extended family
thought He was out of His mind. Therefore, it is possible that
these brothers were there to resolve an extended family conflict
that was erupting as Jesus began His public ministry.
Jesus’ response was not a rude response. This is clear from the
fact that Jesus lived the perfection of charity. But true charity
is always grounded in the truth. Jesus spoke a truth that cut
through the merely human ties and conflicts that were driving these
brothers. By saying, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear
the word of God and act on it,” Jesus was challenging His brothers
to stop looking at Him only in an earthly way. Everyone, including
His relatives, needed to learn to see Jesus as the Son of the
Father in Heaven. It was the act of accepting Jesus’ divine
identity and submitting in obedience to the will of the Father that
established a much deeper bond with Him. That is the relationship
that Jesus desired with His earthly brothers.
The mother of Jesus, on the other hand, was also perfect in every
way. She was free from the disorder of sin and even her mind was
clear, being filled with perfect wisdom and understanding.
Therefore, when it was reported to her what Jesus said, she would
have understood and believed.
Saint Bede says that when we hear the word of God and obey it, we
become Jesus’ “mother” by bringing Him forth into the world through
our words and actions. This also makes us Jesus’ “brothers” because
our obedience makes us all children of the Father in Heaven.
By the gift of the fullness of grace, our Blessed Mother would have
fully understood that her unity with her Son was primarily the
result of their shared obedience to the Father’s will. She not only
experienced the Son of God being conceived within her womb, she
also had the profound experience of conceiving Him in her heart
through her obedience to the will of the Father. That “conception”
of Jesus within her Immaculate Heart would have been unmistakably
clear to her and the cause of her greatest joy. For that reason,
she would have treasured this spiritual motherhood of her Son as
the greatest gift of all, even more than the gift of natural
motherhood.
Reflect, today, upon the fact that you are also invited to be the
“mother” and the “brother” of Jesus. You share in these holy
callings through obedience to the will of the Father. The more
clearly you hear God speak and the more fully you obey all that He
says will determine the depth of spiritual union you have with Him.
Our natural selves must give way to the supernatural life of grace.
Make the choice, with our Blessed Mother, to pursue the glorious
life of grace so that you will conceive the Son of God in your
heart, become a true child of the Father in Heaven, and become a
spiritual brother or sister of our Lord.
My divine Lord, Your love for Your earthly mother was perfect in
every way. That earthly bond was transformed and elevated by Your
spiritual union with her on account of Your mutual obedience to the
will of the Father. Please draw me into Your divine Family by
helping me to listen to and to obey all that the Father speaks.
Jesus, I trust in You.
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