Luke 8
In the Old Testament, we find many stories of brothers. It begins with Cain and Abel. Then, Esau and Jacob follow. Jacob had twelve sons. But all these accounts of brothers show unedifying and scandalous relationships. Cain murdered Abel. Jacob deceived Esau for the inheritance right. Jacobs’ ten sons were jealous of their brother Joseph and sold him away as a slave. In the time of the judges, Judge Gideon’s son Abimelech attempted to be a king and executed his seventy brothers upon one stone. During the reign of King David, his eldest son Absalom rebelled against his father and sought his life. At the beginning of his reign, King Solomon killed his half-brother Adonijah to consolidate his power. Of course, God still carried out his plan for salvation amid these dysfunctional fraternal relationships.
Are these stories only ancient and non-relevant to our modern families? Of course, we don’t find any longer brothers selling their brothers for slavery in our times. But so many of us don’t have to look at other families to find an estranged brother or sister. Almost at every funeral, unfortunately, I encounter broken relationships among families. And I ask, “Who are our brothers and sisters, mothers and fathers?” In today’s gospel, Jesus gives the answer, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.” Truly, those who carry out the word of the Lord become actual help to us when we are in need. Those who practice the word of the Lord in daily life lift our spirit and give us spiritual nourishment. If you see these people, make good friends with them. And let us also become one of them, so that we may also become brothers and sisters of Jesus.
