Who Are My Mother & My Brothers?
In the verses from 1 Samuel, Samuel explains to the people of Israel that having a king will not be the great thing they believe it will be. Still, they want what other nations have and do not understand that their own relationship to God is far better than the monarchies that run the nations of the world around them. In the Genesis account, we read again that age-old story of who did what and who is to blame. Adam and Eve set out into the world of cause and effect, action and consequence – knowledge of good and evil, indeed. In the Gospel of Mark, no one seems to know what to do with Jesus. He seems crazy. When his family appear, those gathered seem relieved, as if the family might be able to “do something” with him. His words astound “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
What do all these passages have in common? The words of 2 Corinthians 4: 13-5:1 give guidance. We live in an upside-down world with a backwards way of perceiving. We look at what is visible and therefore cannot see what is eternal, and real. We think our lives are wasting away because our bodies are diminishing with age, but it is our spirits for which we live, and which are being renewed day by day.
Take a look at these passages in the lectionary from which our Sunday service will be drawn:
Let us pray together that as we go into the season of ordinary time we grow deep roots in the extraordinary love of God, the eternal in our midst, and that we too will be counted among those of whom Jesus declares: “Here are my mother and siblings!”
See you Sunday –
Jane
