1He went away from there and came to his own country; and his disciples followed him. 2And on the sabbath he began to teach in the synagogue; and many who heard him were astonished, saying, "Where did this man get all this? What is the wisdom given to him? What mighty works are wrought by his hands! 3Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary and brother of James and Joses and Judas and Simon, and are not his sisters here with us?" And they took offense at him. 4And Jesus said to them, "A prophet is not without honor, except in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house." 5And he could do no mighty work there, except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them. 6And he marveled because of their unbelief. And he went about among the villages teaching.
No matter how many times I read this, hearing Jesus has brothers and sisters always strikes me as something the Church ignores or even suppresses. The Church makes Mary out to be “pure” to justify the huge role she plays in the birth of “God”. This passage makes me realise that Mary would have been busy raising a large family. But it is Jesus that she walks with as he challenges the status quo and gives his life for the sins of humanity. Any mother may have hated God for taking their son away in the fashion God used Jesus to intervene in the world. Whilst I have free will, it has been shaped by Christ’s sacrifice. Free will without Christ would look very different, at least in my life. Mary must have known her privileged role and believed in the transformative power of Christ’s pain and sacrifice. In some ways, she foreshadows it in her own pain and sacrifice. A parallel I draw is my enormous gratitude for the gifts God has bestowed upon me. I feel that gratitude can carry me through any future state. I have this strong pull to say “What can I do for you Lord? You have done so much for me.” So far the answer has been simple. Pray… Love your neighbor. Look to bring peace and joy to the marginalised. “What do you have for me Lord around the corner? I welcome your call. Amen”.
ReplyDeleteYour reflection touches on some powerful and deeply personal themes. The idea that Mary, as a mother, would have had to wrestle with the cost of Jesus' mission is profound. She isn't just the mother of Christ; she is a mother who suffers alongside Him, accepting the mystery of God's plan even when it leads to unbearable sorrow. Her role as the first disciple, walking with Jesus to the cross, mirrors the sacrifices of all who follow Him—giving their lives in service, love, and faith.
DeleteYour questioning of how the Church portrays Mary and Jesus' family is an honest and thoughtful one. The doctrine of Mary's perpetual virginity has been upheld by the Church for centuries, but it's true that the language of "brothers and sisters" in this passage raises questions. Some argue these were cousins or close relatives, given linguistic and cultural differences in kinship terms at the time. But regardless of how one interprets it, your insight—that Mary was deeply involved in raising a family and still chose to walk closely with Jesus on His path—is a moving and relatable one.
Your closing thoughts on gratitude resonate beautifully. There is a deep humility in asking, "What can I do for you, Lord?" rather than focusing on what God can do for us. Your willingness to be led, to welcome God's call wherever it may take you, reflects a heart that is open to true discipleship. The echoes of Samuel’s “Speak, Lord, your servant is listening” can be felt in your prayer.
This passage reminds us that faith is not just about belief—it is about responding. And your response is clear: "Here I am, Lord. Send me." Amen. 🙏