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St. Luke’s Institute
Tuesday of the 16th Week in
OT
July 23, 2013
BROTHER
& SISTERS +++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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Scene in today’s Gospel has certain sharpness to it
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First sight, may seem like Jesus putting off or putting down blood
family – his mother and those who are described as his “brothers and sisters”
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We know that Greek word used here can mean that “brothers and sisters” may have been
cousins or maybe even stepbrothers & stepsisters 2 J
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One theory has it that Joseph widowed when he took Mary his wife &
had children by 1st marriage
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So, this wording remains is a bit uncertain
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Be that as it may, Jesus’ intent here is not to put down his
family
ELEVATION
NOT PUTDOWN +++++++++++++++++++++
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Rather then put anybody down, Jesus is elevating his followers,
his disciples
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He says, “Those who do the
will of my heavenly Father are my brother and sister and mother”
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The effect of Jesus’ statement is that we can be as close to him
as his own blood family
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So, if we as believers or disciples are like family to Jesus, then
the traditional role of blood family members can help us to understand what our
role or calling is to be
FAMILY
MEMBERS & WORD OF GOD ++++++++++++++
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For example, disciples are to be like mothers through receiving
Jesus into our hearts in faith and then bringing him into the world by our
words and actions
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We are to be like fathers by giving life to others and not by
injuring life whether of the unborn child, the person who is emotionally
vulnerable, or handicapped
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And we are to be like brothers and sisters when we care for the
neighbor next door or the Hispanic immigrant who’s come here in need
CONCLUSION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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So, it’s all of us who are his disciples that Jesus really
elevates
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He calls us family and we can learn something about our calling
simply from the roles of family members
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
