All My Relatives

Then he went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’ And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. ‘Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’— for they had said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’ Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’ Mark 3:20-35

It is hard for some to imagine that we are all related because of our vast differences, cultures and way of seeing the world. We are often more comfortable with the divisions, with calling certain people alien, stranger and unwanted. Yet Jesus calls us to see all of creation as our relatives, rather than focusing on what divides us. We all stand when we lean in together, and we all fall when we pull away. When we love our neighbors and enemies even, we are standing together. And when we cause division, judge others as unworthy, we all fall. Let us stand together and with all of creation, no matter how different and alien we might feel, for that is the will of our Creator.

Mysterious and wondrous Creator, cause of all life

we seek the divisions and judgements in our times

we fear the worst outcomes and violence to come

and forget that you have call us to all be relatives.

These times make us wonder where you are now

we think we have been abandoned to fight alone

we quietly plan and strategize behind closed doors

yet your love still moves through all barriers.

Make us your family again today and always

let our hearts and minds be fixed on mending

the circle of relations, the hearts of the people

for you are the source and we are your offspring. Amen.