Being Jesus’ Mother and Brothers!

Tuesday, September 22, 2026

Prov 21:1-6, 10-13; Lk 8:19-21

Today’s Gospel highlights Jesus redefining family ties through the prism of discipleship.

In Jesus’ explanation, we find him giving us a new and fresh definition of family. This new family belongs to everyone who believes in him. In other words, anyone who believes in Jesus becomes a member of this extended family by default. We announce to the world that we belong here by allowing Jesus’ words to transform our lives. 

When Jesus indicates that we are ‘His mother and brothers,’ he invites us to discover the beautiful connection we share with Mary. She obeyed God and carried the Word within her. Hence, when we carry Jesus, the Word, within us, we become like Mary. In a spiritual sense, we are carriers of Christ, as we allow him to dwell in our hearts and shape our lives. 

An integral part of carrying Jesus within us is to make him manifest in our actions so that others find us to be the ‘Alter Christus’ – ‘Another Christ,’ though, strictly and theologically speaking, the expression is used as an epithet to symbolize priesthood. In the way we truthfully live out Jesus’ words, we proclaim him to the world in a way others cannot. 

In sum, Jesus teaches that we become ‘his mother and brothers’ when we listen to him and act on his words faithfully. Others will witness the Christ living in us when we become a living reflection of the Lord Himself. 

Let us pray that we may belong to the family of disciples through our faithful listening and obedience. 

Fr. Dhinakaran Savariyar