The Family of God

Matthew 12: 46-50

Ancient religions were built on the premise of lineage and household membership.  If one was a descendant of the patriarch or deity, if one belonged to a household of such lineage - then one was pledge to the religion, the deity, and benefits subsequently flowed to you.  But as the history of tribal religions shows, such fidelity was not forthcoming.  Such membership did not at all guarantee faith in the member who belonged, for time and again infidelities marked the history of the tribal religions.  

So along comes Jesus in today's Gospel portion.  He is informed that his family wants to see him, and he uses this opportunity to upend this entire notion of religion.  To belong to the family of God is to do God's will, and to do God's will is to be the love and mercy of God in the world as Jesus was.  We need not be of a particular race or ethnicity; no special membership card in any club is necessary.  We must only do God's will in our lives, do the work of love and mercy each day.  

Each Sunday we invite those who desire to do God's will - to be love and mercy in the world - to gather as a family in order to support, encourage, and nourish one another in this work of love and mercy.  It is an invitation not to belong to some special club or to belong to some elite clique, but rather an invitation to come for nourishment, healing, and support as we work together to be God's love and mercy to all we meet.