Jesus Family - Mt 12:46-50
The last pericope in Mt 12 may give the impression that it fulfills the role of closing and at the same time resolving the action of the events of this chapter. Jesus' relatives interrupted his disputes with those around him. By meeting with them, Jesus changed the addressee of the teaching. However, this interpretation is not correct. Is contradicted by Jesus' statement in which he unequivocally defined his relationship to his relatives. In this context, our pericope acquires meaning through the term disciples. It is noteworthy that the disciples were mentioned at the beginning of the chapter in connection with the teaching about the importance of the Sabbath. Later, in the following pericopes, the Evangelist does not mention them at all, although they undoubtedly accompanied Jesus all the time to show them again at the very end of this section. At the beginning, the disciples acted as a kind of stimulator, a spark that ignited Jesus' discussion with his surroundings about many important issues, and now Jesus himself indicated them as representatives of the lifestyle to which he called. Such a phenomenon in biblical studies was called inclusion: one and the same motive opens and closes a certain part of the text, thus determining the direction of interpretation.
Jesus' mother and brothers appeared among the audience. At this point, we should briefly recall the position of the Catholic Church on Jesus' siblings: Jesus was the firstborn and only Son of Mary. After his birth, Mary did not bear any more children. Her marriage to Joseph was completely virginal. It is necessary not only to support this doctrinal truth, but also to emphasize that it is the only one that can be accepted. There is one argument: the choice of Mary by God and entrusting her with the role of being the Mother of the Son of God, the Savior of the world. Some try to explain this mystery by referring to the event under the cross in the Gospel of John (Jn 19: 25-27), arguing that if Mary had more children, Jesus would not have entrusted her to his disciple, but to someone from his siblings. From this fact it can be logically concluded that Jesus was the only child. While this type of argument is well-intentioned, it is very narrow and short-sighted.
The event at the cross in John's Gospel has a completely different, much broader and deeper meaning. Penetrating into the mystery of the person of Mary, into the mystery of her vocation and mission, one becomes intuitively convinced that the fullness of the grace she has received indicates her complete exclusivity, inviolability in every respect. This cannot be fully understood, it can only be believed, facing the depth of the mystery with all humility. Raising rational arguments - perhaps - is sometimes necessary, but it risks practicing incorrect apologetics. Faith full of humility and trust is enough. And nothing more…
Following the rest of the narrative, one can come to the conclusion that Jesus renounced his kinship with his relatives, including his Mother, but this is a wrong trace. Jesus did not renounce, but enlarged the circle of his closest people, going beyond blood ties. He invited all who want to live according to God's will to come into kinship with him. We have already encountered the subject of God's will in the Gospel of Matthew, reflecting on the Lord's Prayer. There, Jesus invited us to pray to the Father in heaven to ask Him to fulfill His will, His plans in earthly matters (Mt 6:10). Now the teaching of Jesus enters, another, higher level. It is not only about making requests in prayer, but also about deeds. Prayer should be followed by a concrete life. In this context, the disciples are shown who followed Jesus and tried to do what he taught. For the will of the heavenly Father was most fully revealed in his Son.
The Church is related to her Lord. Saint Paul aptly expressed this when comparing Christians to members of the Body of Christ (cf. 1 Cor 12:27). This relationship is most fully expressed in the sacramental life, especially in the Eucharist. Jesus calls us to eat his flesh and drink his blood: Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life (…), he remains in me, and I in him (cf. Jn. 6: 54-56). There is a kinship with Jesus forever. In Eucharistic communion, man unites with him on the sacramental, mystical level, and this is much more than a bond of biological kinship. For this is the will of my Father that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him should have eternal life (cf. Jn 6:40). In the Eucharist, man not only sees and believes, but he is truly united with the Father's Son. Thus, he does His will. Union with Jesus, living with Him, in Him and for Him is the fulfillment of God's will
“Try to understand what the will of the Lord is” (Eph. 5:17).
Until Tomorrow
fr. george