Faith of a Family

Gospel: Mark 3:31-35. 
The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.
A crowd seated around him told him, "Your mother and your brothers (and your sisters) are outside asking for you."
But he said to them in reply, "Who are my mother and (my) brothers?"
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers.
(For) whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."

The faith of a family in each other should be built on unshakeable ground. It would require the faith of a family to be one with Jesus in doing God’s will. Jesus claims us as His brother, sister and mother so that we would have faith in Him and allow God’s will to be done.

Sadly, that kind of faith is now seldom found in families. Wives doubt the love of their husbands for them (vice versa). Brothers and sisters turn against each other in rivalry of greater shares of inheritance. However, that would be looking through a microscope.

Last Sunday, I had the opportunity of witnessing a young married couple in church with their infant daughter. Oh, how she was pampered. Both parents must have big dreams for her. God bless her and God bless their family.  Also, I witnessed an old couple going to church together, holding hands as they sing the Lord’s Prayer. What a lovely sight. Their children must be grown-ups now building their own families. You see, this is the picture of a family built in Christ. The young couple has faith that their daughter would grow up good and the old couple must have kept their faith in each other through the years to have grown old together.

A mother would always open the door to her children no matter how messed up they have been hoping for a change. A brother will always have his brother’s back and his sister’s defender and sister will always be a comforting presence to her family believing their siblings have done no wrong. That is the faith of a family. That is the kind of faith Jesus wants from us. The kind of faith that never shakes no matter what.