Sometimes, you can tell when people are related to each other. Maybe it’s the cheekbones, the eyes, the dimples in the cheeks or the lilt in a voice. You can tell they came from the same gene pool.
But not every family resemblance has to be physical.
That’s what Jesus is getting at in this passage. He’s letting the world know that being part of his family is about more than shared ancestry or DNA. It’s about a shared way of living and loving. To be related to Jesus means hearing God’s Word and carrying it into the world. As the first Christians put it, it means following The Way. Or as a song from my youth put it, “They’ll know we are Christians by our love, by our love…”
This Gospel might make us wonder: How would people recognize us as members of Christ’s family? Would they know we are Christians?
Amen. :)
AMEN!
Thank you for this beautiful reflection!
******* So what are the common features in this family of Jesus in Luke 8:21, “He replied, “My mother and brothers are those who hear God’s Word and do what it says.” Two features: Hear God’s Word and Do what it says! *** So do I have these two features? How often do I read, hear and understand God’s Word? Do I apply what I read, hear and understand? *** How does that happen? Romans 10:14-15, 17, “How can they call on Him (Jesus) unless they believe in Him? How can they believe in Him unless they hear about Him?...
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Amen Greg
I volunteer for St Vincent de Paul but sometimes I wonder if they see me as loving or as harsh or as sometimes nosy because of what questions we have to ask but at the end we always pray before we go out and pray with the client if they wish so I hope they think we are Christian and buy our love Amen Amen Amen
I have truly enjoyed these reflections for many years. In fact, I have saved some of the more memorable ones to review periodically. I bring it with me when I travel. Thanks for your efforts around this wonderful publication.
Living Faith provides brief daily Catholic devotions based on one of the Mass readings of the day. Published new each quarter, these reflections are written by women and men from a variety of backgrounds - lay people as well as clergy and religious. Learn more.
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I lived in Hawaii for many years. I moved to Virginia and have lived in Virginia longer than I have any place now in my life's journey. The older I get seems like I am .5 degrees of separation with a person I know or family I know. The family of God is connected to the Spiritual Blessings we all share and receive. I was with a person who is Christian and Islam, he has studied a lot of scripture. His faith is real and he prayed with/for me, the hospital staff members, myself and for a lot of others....
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