Слово Божие
Пришли Матерь и братья Иисуса и, стоя вне дома, послали к Нему звать Его. Около Него сидел народ. И сказали Ему: вот, Матерь Твоя и братья Твои и сёстры Твои, вне дома, спрашивают Тебя. И отвечал им: кто матерь Моя и братья Мои? И обозрев сидящих вокруг Себя, говорит: вот матерь Моя и братья Мои; ибо кто будет исполнять волю Божию, тот Мне брат, и сестра, и матерь.
Мк. 3:31-35
Размышления над сегодняшним Словом Божьим
ActiveDefault- Отвергает ли Иисус свою собственную мать и семью? Совсем нет, но Он напоминает Своим ученикам, что существует родство, которое имеет приоритет над кровными узами. Оно основано на Его радикальном призыве быть похожими на Него. Отношения с Иисусом приносят близость, подобную отношениям матери, брата или сестры.
- Господи, помоги мне укреплять отношения с Тобой во время моей молитвы. Помоги мне понять Твою волю в отношении меня и исполнять ее.
Размышления над сегодняшним Словом Божьим
ActiveDefault- Another awkward meeting point of Jesus and his family. They stay outside, no longer part of those around him. The blessing at the end would have made sense to Mary who had heard it already from Elizabeth: ‘blessed is she who believed that the word spoken to her would be fulfilled.’ The word of God is deeper than any biological tie Jesus has; Mary knew that and was not offended but affirmed by what Jesus said here. Our deepest belonging is to God; all other belongings in life flow from that. We come from God and go to God. Our prayer, no matter what its method and tone, with its dryness and struggles, is time given to the prime connection in our life, the relationship with God.
- Group solidarity has always been important to the Jews. In Jesus' time the family unit included all one's relatives who not only regarded one another as brothers, sisters, mothers and fathers but identified themselves so strongly with one another that whatever was done to one member was seen as being done to all. The shame of one affected all. So when Jesus' relatives hear people saying that Jesus has ‘gone out of his mind' they leave their homes in Nazareth and come to Capernaum to restrain him so that he does not bring shame on the family.
- Jesus said that ‘whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.' Do I truly regard those of other Christian churches as my brothers and sisters?
- Jesus does not put limits on belonging, instead his embrace is prepared to take in all who do God's will. I ask God to help me to broaden my horizons, not to let me be limited by a narrow scope of what is comfortable.
- Jesus invites me to call God my father and he recognises me as one of his family. What more assurance do I need that Jesus walks with me?