Bearing the Family Resemblance

Read Matthew 12:38-50

      The fact that Jesus’ brothers (with their mother) were seeking a word with him is awkward for the Catholic doctrine of Mary’s perpetual virginity.  Catholic scholars have proposed that Jesus’ brothers were sons of Joseph by a previous marriage, or sons of Mary’s sister who supposedly (and oddly) was also known as “Mary.”  In either case it seems a far stretch to defend a church doctrine that postdates the New Testament by centuries.  The more natural reading of this and other passages (like Matthew 1:25 and 13:55-56) is that Joseph and Mary had other children together after the birth of Jesus. 

       But the larger point is that Jesus regards his relationship to his disciples, his followers, as deeper and more abiding than natural familial bonds.  “Stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and brothers!’” (12:49). 

      We say that the child has his father’s nose, or his mother’s eyes, but the resemblances of Jesus’ forever-family are spiritual and moral.  “For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother” (12:50).  We don’t make ourselves Jesus’ relatives by doing good things, but for those who have been born again (or “from above,” John 3), doing the Father’s will is bred into their bones.  And the family resemblance shows more and more as they mature.