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Gospel Reading for July 23, 2024 – Matthew 12: 46-50
INCLUSIVITY
While Jesus was speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him. Someone told him, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you.” But he said in reply to the one who told him, “Who is my mother? 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 heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
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There are those who use this reading to disrespect Mary, believing that Jesus did not give her importance at all. Those who act or think this way do not understand that Jesus was emphasizing INCLUSIVITY in his family: that ALL OF US who do the will of God is part of his family.
Jesus, Son of God was sent on a mission on earth and had to become human to save humankind. He needed a mother to be born into the human family, and Mary was chosen for this. Because Mary was so attuned to the Father’s will, she said “yes” despite the haziness of what it meant to be the mother of the Son of God. When Jesus said, “whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother” he was also describing his own mother. As Jesus was born to be given to all who hope for salvation, he gave Mary to us to be our mother too (John 19: 26-27).
Thank you, Lord Jesus, for giving us your own mother and for giving us the chance to be members of your family!
