Mark 3: 31-35 My Brothers and Sisters

In today's Gospel we have an interesting interplay with the question, "Who are my mother and my brothers and my sisters?"  Some excavations of areas in Jesus' time homes have shown them to be clustered around an open space, what we would consider a shared yard, similar to what is seen in Syria and other countries today.  Those who shared would be considered family, like brothers and sisters, and parents.  Also the word for brother or sister was the same one for cousin.  There are many who would argue that Jesus had actual brothers and sisters, but it would negate the need for Mary to travel around the countryside with Jesus, or the need for Jesus to entrust her to the Apostle John's care on the cross.  Perhaps we can't see the forest for the tree.  In other words, we are looking at details instead of taking a step back and looking at the meaning.

Do we not form our own little families by taking friends and adopting them as family?  Isn't it common to make a best friend and aunt or uncle to our children because we are so close to them?  This is how we are to him in our relationship, and how we are in relation to God as his adopted sons and daughters.  What a privilege!  In Jesus' words, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”