Jesus’s Family

“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?’”

Matthew 12:47-48

If I were to ask you “Tell me about your family” what would you say? If someone were to ask me that I imagine I would reply with telling them that my parents had 3 children of which I am the youngest. Then I would go on to tell the story of how my parents ended up in the U.S. and then talk about my family relationships and dynamics or maybe some funny moments growing up. In other words, I would talk about the people in my family and really how I relate to each one of them — what will really be revealed is what my relationships are like with each member of my family.

When Jesus was told that His “mother and brothers” are there and are looking for Him, Jesus didn’t say “Oh, thank you” and then go out to meet them. Rather He stayed where He was — with the people — and turned it into a teaching moment. He asked who is His family? It’s quite odd actually. It’s almost as if after you ask someone about their family, they say to you, “Gee, I don’t know. You tell me. Who are my family?” Some people reading this might even say that Jesus was being rude to His mother and family, and you might even agree so too if you were to read it by itself and not looking at the whole picture. Jesus was teaching the people that they too were part of His family. Those who do the will of His Father is His family, He tells us. So, instead of being rude to His mom by asking those present who is His family, Jesus was really telling us something about Mary. Mary was one who not only listened to God but also lived out His will for her. This revelation is quite important. It tells us so much about Mary and about what is most important in our lives. Our relationships with family and friends are important, but what’s more important is our relationship with God. For when all is good with our relationship with God, our other relationships will also prove to be good and fulfilling, and not the other way around.

So, I invite you today to take a few moments and sit in the silence and talk with Jesus. He has called you to be a part of His family. Are you a part of it? How is your relationship with Jesus? Are you one who is living out (or trying to live out as well as possible) the calling and the life to which God has called you? Are you Jesus’s brother or sister? Because He is yours.

Me Time

“He said to them,
‘Come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.’ People were coming and going in great numbers, and they had no opportunity even to eat.”

Mark 6:31

Have you ever heard someone (or maybe even yourself) say “I need some ‘me’ time.” Parents of newborns and with young children know that this “me time” is hard to come by and maybe even impossible! Jesus seemed to have told the disciples to do this: “come away by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” But what happens? The crowds follow them. How did Jesus react? He looked at them, was moved with pity and compassion. and He ministered to them.

How do we respond to times when our “me time” was interrupted? Do we see those people or things that come up as inconveniences and disruptions or do we encounter them and embrace them as opportunities to grow and learn? Are these moments of interruptions for us mere annoyances or do we see them as moments of grace?

Don’t get me wrong, I am not saying that we do not need any alone time. In fact we do, and all that we do should come from this alone time. Alone time, not me time. Alone time is time spent in the silence, where God comes to meet us. It is in this alone time with God are we able to recharge and put our focus back on what is most important, so that when these interruptions come, we will not say to ourselves, “Oh why of all days is this happening today?” but rather, “Alright, Jesus, I trust in You. How can I see you in him? In this situation?”

This week let us strive to seek and relish in this alone time (rather than me time) so that we may go and do all that we have been asked to do.

Being Sheep

“Jesus said to his Apostles:
‘Behold, I am sending you like sheep in the midst of wolves; so be shrewd as serpents and simple as doves.’”

Matthew 10:16

Our world is a crazy and dangerous place. Just my opinion, but do you agree? Of course it is good because God created it, but because of sin what was created good has been misused and twisted. But this isn’t new. Even in Jesus’ time and before, the world has seen its share of evil. Jesus warns His Apostles to be careful because they were being sent out “like sheep in the midst of wolves.” We, Christians, people who try to live out the life Jesus lived and preached are the sheep who strive to follow the lead of the Good Shepherd. But sometimes we are blocked and even struck down by wolves, by those who do not see this Love or believe the truth that they were made in the image and likeness of a God who has loved them from all eternity. Maybe sometimes we become those wolves who prevent the sheep from following the Good Shepherd. Do our lives — all that we do and say (and think) — reflect the life of Christ? The love with which He loved? Or do our lives lead others astray, away from the truth, away from God?

Today the Church celebrates the feast day of some very important people, some people near and dear to my heart: the Chinese martyrs. The collect or opening prayer at Mass reads: “All-powerful, ever-living God, turn our weakness into strength. As you gave Augustine Zhao Rong and the martyrs of China the courage to suffer death for Christ, give us the courage to live in faithful witness to you.” It was in their weakness that the martyrs were given the courage to “suffer death for Christ.” St. Augustine Zhao Rong and 119 of his companions were canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 2000. Before this, there were no canonized saints in China. The faith was brought to China as early as the 5th century and the first church was built in the 7th century. The Chinese people waited for 1500 years for a saint from their own native land. The first major persecutions of Christians in China followed the Rites Controversy in 1648 when a Dominican missionary was beheaded. Since then 119 more were martyred in the next 280 years. The oldest was 79 and the youngest was 9 years old. Their faith was incredible. These were truly sheep of the Good Shepherd. From enthusiastically saying “Yes!” when asked if he believed in God knowing the soldiers were out to kill Christians and being sliced and skinned while saying “every drop of my blood will show that I am a Christian” to tracing the sign of the Cross upon arriving at the place of their execution and then saying “Now, I am ready to die.” These sheep ranged from children to the elderly and from catechumens (not yet baptized) to clergy. Like the Good Shepherd Himself, these sheep were bound and led to where they did not want to go, but they did and did so all the while praising God and singing hymns. Such are the witnesses of the sheep of the Good Shepherd.

Are we faithful sheep of the Good Shepherd or have we fallen away by the allurements of the wolves? Let us pray today that we may truly be sheep who follows the Good Shepherd unreservedly, and leading other sheep to do the same.