the family of Jesus - 2nd week saturday 2018

Most of the times the most difficult people to reach out when it comes to practicing the faith are our families.  This is especially true in the first centuries of Christianity when most often Christian converts found themselves in difficult family situations because of their faith and because of the priorities imposed on them by their faith in Jesus.  I believe this is the reason why Mark included this particular event in his gospel – the event which speaks of Jesus being misunderstood by his own family.  This is a form of encouragement to the early Christians and also to us that despite being misunderstood, despite being judged harshly we will not be discouraged in our faith.

Sometimes the unbelievers in our family, and those who remain lukewarm in the faith, can be a source of embarrassment for us religious because we can so particular in helping spiritually the people entrusted to us in our parishes and schools but we could not even bring our family to the sacraments and to the practice of the faith.

At the same time we are also made aware by this event in the gospel that our families, in their eagerness to take good care of us, may sometimes become obstacles and hindrances to the mission rather than a help in the fulfillment of our vocation.  Especially when we’re putting up with too many sacrifices and fulling our priorities to the extent of neglecting our needs.  These are all good intentions and we have our families to thank for because they remind us to take care of ourselves.  But there is wisdom that in our kind of vocation we are separated from our families so that we can serve the Lord with our whole and undivided hearts.