DID JESUS REJECT AND INSULTED MARY? WHO ARE THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CHRIST?
TUESDAY 24, 2023
Week 3 in Ordinary Time
FRANCIS DE SALES, B.D. MEMORIAL (1567 - 1622)
First Reading. Hebrews 10: 1-10
Psalm. 40: 2, 4, 7-8, 10-11 (R. 8a.9a)
Gospel. Mark 3: 31-35
TOPICS FOR REFLECTION
DID JESUS REJECT AND INSULTED MARY?
WHO ARE THE BROTHERS AND SISTERS OF CHRIST?
Most of our separated brothers and sisters often refer to today's Gospel in two ways.
1. That Jesus rejected and insulted Mary His mother which was the reason for them not honoring Mary.
2. That for the fact that the bible said that Jesus' brothers and sisters are waiting for Him signifies that Mary has other children apart from Jesus.
In the first place, what we need to know and understand is that Jesus neither rejected nor insulted His mother, rather He systematically promoted her.
What Jesus tried to emphasize is that anyone who does the will of my Father is my brother and sister.
Hence, among all, Mary was the first person who do the will of God.
In case you have forgotten, let me remind you how Mary was the first to do God's will.
In Luke 1: 26-38, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary that she was to conceive and bear Jesus, and in verse 38, Mary responded by saying...
"I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word"
Invariably, Mary the mother of Jesus was the first person who does the will of the Father.
By implication, Mary being the mother of Jesus who is God, is also the daughter of God the Father, because she does the will of God.
Similarly, we should not be confused that Mary had other children who were referred to as brothers and sisters of Jesus.
One fact that should be clear to us all is that Mary and Joseph had families, they have brothers and sisters who also gave birth to their children.
***Do you know that John the Baptist is Jesus' brother?
---Elizabeth is Mary's cousin, and Elizabeth gave birth to John.
***According to Church history, James and John are Jesus' cousins, the sons of Mary Salome.
---Mary Salome is Mary mother of Jesus' sister.
The same way it goes on during the time of Jesus, that coming in human form through the lineage of two families; the families of Mary and Joseph. Automatically, all the sons and daughters of Jesus' extended relations are brothers and sisters of Jesus on earth.
However, because Jesus who is God came in human form to establish the kingdom of God and His Father, so anyone of us who listens and acts on it automatically becomes a brother and sister of Jesus.
In conclusion, I will suggest that we should try to apply faith and reason in the interpretation of the Bible.
About today's memorial, St. Francis de sales. (culled from online Universalis)
Francis was ordained a priest and was later appointed bishop of Geneva, and spent the rest of his life reforming and reorganizing the diocese, and caring for the souls of his people by preaching and spiritual guidance.
St Francis taught that we can all attain a devout and spiritual life, whatever our position in society: holiness is not reserved for monks and hermits alone. He wrote that “religious devotion does not destroy: it perfects,” and his spiritual counsel is dedicated to making people more holy by making them more themselves.
St Francis is the patron saint of writers and journalists, who would do well to imitate his love and his moderation: as he said, “whoever wants to preach effectively must preach with love.”
Peace ✌️ be with you.
Rev. Fr. Segun Oladeji, CRS.
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