We are Family

‘When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting-place, but it finds none. Then it says, “I will return to my house from which I came.” When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation.’ While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’ Matthew 12:43-50 

We are on our next to last day here in Scotland. On one day here, we spent time in Paisley, at the history center, searching for ancestors of my father who came over to upsate New York mid-1800s. They were supposedly from Paisley and I was carrying a paisley scarf from here. We met with a lovely woman and she worked tirelessly with us but we could not connect the names to a place. It felt as of I had lost family. Yet the next day, we met with folks from St. Mary,s Cathedral and it felt like home and family. Jesus was not rejecting his mother and brothers, but instead, changing the narrative entirely. We are the family of God, not by blood or lineage but by the love we share. We then can find family wherever we go.

 Loving Creator, you have made us all family 

from every land and every culture you call us 

to be one people of devoted love and service. 

 Greed and domination have injured our family

 we tried to colonize rather than love others 

and yet you, in your love for us, call us your own. 

 Take us from our selfishness and teach us to love again

make us those who make family through loving strangers 

and give us your heart so we might serve everyone. Amen