Read:
Matthew 12:46-50
While he was still speaking to the people, behold, his mother and his brothers stood outside, asking to speak to him. But he replied to the man who told him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”
Reflect
For a lad who grew up on a farm and loves traditional harvest thanksgiving services, a trip to conduct the recent annual Sunday evening celebration at Chappel URC was a delight. The village Chapel welcomed its usual congregation with additional visitors from the community. An enjoyable time was had by all, hearty singing of favourite hymns followed by refreshments including cider. On an occasion like that it is easy to become sentimental about friends and friendship.
Somehow, I think Jesus challenges us to engage in more than comfortable worship. He speaks of family being all who do his Father’s will. How often do we ask ourselves tough questions about what God is calling us to do and which part of God’s distressed family we are being encouraged to love, support and pray for.
Our comfortable celebrations are valid as well. They are a part of witness and to be reminded of the goodness of God in praise and worship is what God has bidden us to do.
If your family is anything like mine, family life is a blend of happy times, times when support it given and times when it is received. Family means loyalty and it means a duty to encourage and sometimes to challenge. Can you see the same pattern in your blood family relationships as you see in your Christian family relationships or are you a different person in different worlds…does it matter if so?
Prayer
Lord Jesus, sometimes I wrestle with the different strands of my life and although I wish they were better blended they often pull apart. Help me reflect on who it is that you are calling me to be and give me the grace to become that person with your help, for Jesus’s sake. Amen.