Who are my brothers and sisters?

My meditations on the readings for September 22, 2009
Ezra 6:7-8, 12b, 14-20
Psalm 122:1-2, 3-4ab, 4cd-5
Luke 8:19-21

The people that Jesus can call family are those who listen to what He says and act on it. It's that simple. The Father, through His Son has adopted us into His holy family as Paul says in Ephesians, "In love He destined us for adoption to Himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of His will, for the praise of the glory of His grace that He granted us in the Beloved."

This adoption makes us all brothers and sisters to each other and to our Savior, all of us children of the Father. This is precisely what Jesus is saying, that those of us who hear the Word of God, take it to heart, believe in faith and follow His way are truly His brothers and sisters. Although it may seem so if you read the gospel literally, in no way is He dismissing His earthly mother and "brothers" since He speaks here strictly in the spiritual sense.

This certainly was a radical change in the religious thinking of His time and the Pharisees who heard this most certainly were angered that He had the audacity to claim a father-son relationship with God, and to include all of His followers as well. But that is the part of the beauty of God's salvation plan. He loves us so much that He desires the closest relationship possible with us and has adopted us as His own.

But to belong to the family and claim the heritage of God Himself, Jesus makes clear the qualification—"those who hear the word of God and act on it." It is a twofold requirement. We must hear, but hearing alone is insufficient—the word of God is a call to action. If we hear without acting, we declare our contempt for our Father in Heaven. However, the word is so compelling that it is nearly impossible for anyone with any sort of human feeling to hear it and be unmoved.

The actions are different for each of us. Some will feed the hungry, others will visit the sick or those imprisoned, some will find clothing and shelter for those who lack them. Some will bake bread and goodies for church fundraisers; others will talk to their friends and those who have no friends. The world of actions is endless for those who dispose themselves to act.

So while the road is narrow—hear and act—it is also as wide as all of humanity—love as I have loved you. Love is by far and away the widest of all paths and the freest. And when we love with God's love, people know it and welcome it—it is better than shelter and food because it is certainty of our value in the eyes of our Father.