Tuesday 23 September 2008

Background

The actions of Jesus often go against the grain of expectedbehaviour for a teaching purpose, and this episode is no exception.Unlike the telling of this story in Mark3:31-35 Jesus here does not deny his family entirely, butwidens the circle.

Where the expectation would normally be that each of us have aspecial obligation to our family members, Jesus extends this to"all those who hear the word of God and do it". This, of course,includes Jesus' mother and brothers but it is still a shockingexpansion of family duties. Jesus is again acting in a way thatgives much more than we are used to giving.

Acknowledging family ties to people is not just about being nice tothem. Family carries a duty of care and obligation - acknowledgingsomeone as kin carries a cost. What would the world be like ifhumankind lived with an ethic of behaving as if each person inneed, each nameless child starving in the news, was actually theirson or daughter stranded and vulnerable? I would move heaven andearth to help my own brother Andrew. I confess that I do not moveheaven and earth to help each individual I see in need. I setboundaries to my action and love. Jesus does not.

Jesus teaches with his whole life, not just his words, and whateverour belief his life asks questions of us today. He leaves us notwith a set of rules but with uncomfortable questions which requiremore than simple answers. This passage is not calling us toself-neglect or setting us impossible tests. Instead itdemonstrates that the love of God is not bounded as ours is. And aswe begin to live out the answers to the questions Jesus' lifeposes, we begin to live closer to him.

To Ponder

Who would you move heaven and earth to help?

What do you do when you can do no more?

Is there a small change or service you could givethat would surprise and help someone who did not expect it?