Many cultures – both ancient and modern – affirm the belief that “blood is thicker than water.” We like to think of ourselves as loyal to our own kin. Family comes first! In the gospel, Jesus sharply, alarmingly, contradicts the norm. He snubs his nuclear family, his blood, asserting that in the family of God, water is thicker than blood. We, who have received the Holy Spirit through baptism, have been joined to Christ’s death and resurrection and knit together in the body of Christ. We discover that Jesus’ family is not defined by objective or biological categories—DNA tests, adoption records, or religious pedigree—but rather by function: Jesus’ family consists of those whom God has called into mission and are engaged in that mission. Those with whom we sing and pray this day are Jesus’ family. With them, we go forth in peace to do the will of God.
image: Crowd XVIII by Diana Ong. Computer graphic. Copyright © 2022 SuperStock. Used by permission.