Redefining Family: A Crossroad of Faith

January 28, 2025 - Tuesday, Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Mark 3:31-35

One of the unique characteristics of Mark's Gospel is its “sandwich” structure, in which two stories are intertwined to convey a deeper message. The first instance of this structure appears in chapter 3. The author first tells us that Jesus' family thought He was out of His mind and planned to seize Him (Mark 3:20-21). Then, Mark shifts to narrate Jesus' encounter with the scribes, who accused Him of being possessed (Mark 3:22-30). Finally, Mark returns to Jesus' family, who arrive and ask for Him (Mark 3:31-35).

The unbelief of Jesus' family in the outer layers (Mark 3:20-21 and Mark 3:31-35) and the harsh rejection by the religious authorities in the inner layer (Mark 3:22-30) powerfully mirrors how the Gospel message often meets with resistance, whether from those closest to us or from the established powers of society.

Jesus’ calling often places us at a crossroads between following Him and fulfilling the expectations of family and society. Just as Jesus' relatives struggled to understand His mission, many of us find ourselves in a similar position when the demands of following Christ clash with the expectations of our families. I am reminded of a cook I met in Indonesia, whose family prevented him from pursuing his vocation to the priesthood. Despite the passing years and his family’s approval of his life choices, he still felt the pull of a calling left unfulfilled.

In the inner layer, which we discussed yesterday, Jesus refuted the scribes' accusations that He was possessed (Mark 3:22-30). Today, we hear Jesus' powerful response to His relatives. When His mother and brothers arrive, seeking to bring Him back, Jesus does not cower or submit to their pressure. Instead, He redefines the meaning of family. He looks at those seated around Him—His disciples and all those gathered to hear Him—and declares, “Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” In this powerful statement, Jesus challenges the very concept of family. He is not rejecting His family, but rather elevating the concept of spiritual kinship. For Jesus, the bond of faith and obedience to God’s will surpasses even the closest earthly ties.

For those who choose to follow Jesus, this truth often comes with a cost. The life of discipleship can be isolating, difficult, and misunderstood. Like Jesus, we are often called to stand apart from the world’s expectations. Jesus’ words are a reminder that, while family is important, there is a higher calling: to be part of the family of God, bound not by blood but by the willingness to do God’s will. And in this family, we find not rejection, but radical belonging—a belonging that transcends human limitations and extends to eternal life.

This passage challenges us: Are we willing to embrace the family of faith, even when it means stepping away from earthly expectations? Are we ready to place God’s will above all else, even when it conflicts with the wishes of those we love? As followers of Christ, we are called to make that choice daily. Like Jesus, we must be willing to redefine our family relationships, recognizing that the bonds we share in Christ are stronger and more enduring than anything this world can offer.