ONE FAMILY IN CHRIST

                                 Meditation for Tuesday of the 16^th Week in Ordinary Time, Year B
                                                            (Ex 14:21-15:1; Mt 12:46-50)

Family ties are usually strongest in our minds. From there grows tribal or racial sentiments, which secretly but powerfully influences us. The waters of baptism do not wash away the imprint of these blood ties, but it is expected that faith should build on those ties, widening its horizon and taking the outreach to a deeper and more influential level than the believer’s natural blood ties.

As Jesus was preaching, the man in the crowd, recognizing the importance of family bond, interrupted him by informing him that his mother and his brethren were outside looking for him. It was expected that he would stop to attend to them, but Jesus answered, “Here is my mother and my brethren! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother, and sister, and mother.” Doing the will of God, i.e. allowing the word of God we heard through Jesus Christ to germinate and bear fruit in us, makes us ‘one family’ with Jesus. The grace of God is able to bind us in ties that are more enduring and widespread than the blood ties. The life we share in the Blood of Jesus transforms us into the image of Jesus, such that while we exist in our family blood line, we truly live and operate with the life we share in Christ Jesus.

But many Christians are still locked up in the small circle of family and familiar tongue and culture! We often restrict our charities and allegiance to human blood line. This is worse when it comes to marriage. Like the Israelites that crossed the red sea, we need to be delivered from this land of slavery of living only for those in our bloodline. But it will take the grace of God, the mighty hand of God to break this yoke, just as he divided the sea and the people passed through. In the same way, the word of God abiding in us can pull us through, so that we can enjoy the beauty and freedom of sharing life-bonds with all who do the will of God.

 

Fr Jude Chinwenwa Nwachukwu, C.Ss.R
Saints Peter & Paul Catholic Church,
Tedi-Muwo, Ojo, Lagos.
Tuesday July 20^th, 2021.
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