Daily Gospel Reflection for January 28, 2020

Reflection by Abby Watts Today's Gospel: Mark 3:31-35 - Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas Today’s passage from the Gospel of Mark has always made me uncomfortable. I feel like it’s ammunition for the non-Catholic reader to say that one, Jesus had siblings; and two, that the Blessed Mother was not as important as we make her out to be. But recently, my heart has been opened to what a blessing these words are, especially when Jesus says, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” There is no doubt how important Jesus’ family is to Him. To expect anything less from Him than to fully respect and honor His mother would be on the verge of blasphemy. This passage is not about who Jesus is excluding. It’s about who He is including and what He is including them (us!) in. We are invited into a familial relationship with the God of the universe through His divine son. We are not asked to be acquaintances or business partners, but family. What a gift we have been given by these beautiful words!