Reflection Mt 25: 31-46 The Face of God Is in Our Brother

“You shall not bear hatred in your heart for your brother.” The Lord commands through Moses.  How many times have we each felt someone’s wrath, annoyance toward us, or just that look that left us crushed?  When we acknowledge how we feel, then suddenly we know it is wrong to hate others.  Perhaps our anger will melt into compassion and understanding especially when we recall in today’s Gospel that Jesus reminds us that he is those people that we help, that we give encouragement; he is within the hungry, the thirsty and the poor.  Mother Theresa called this Jesus’ “distressing disguise of the poor” when he appeared to her in the form of those who needed help. 

Christ is in each of us.  Do you recall Jesus told us that he would send us the Paraclete to help us discern what we must do to continue on the Way?  Jesus also told us “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.” (Jn 14:15) And what was his command?  “Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you should love one another.” (Jn 13:34)  Isn’t that what Jesus is reiterating today when he tells us, “I was hungry and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me,” explaining that whenever the disciples or we ‘do it for the least brothers of mine, you did it for me.” (Mt 25:35-36, 40)  Let us be certain that when we give, we give to Christ and for Christ in whatever form we meet him with charitable hearts that preserves the dignity of our brethren for our love of God.  Amen.

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.”