7 June 2015 Mark 3:20-35

7 June 2015  Mark 3:20-35

In the history of human culture, self-identified communities formed first around family, then clan, then tribe, eventually growing to cities, city-states and nations.  But much of human behavior is still driven by those early roots of family, clan and tribe.  Those ties have a great deal to do with our religious, social and political thinking:  Without always realizing the pattern, we seek to defend and protect those closest to us, those most like us.

In today's gospel, Jesus says "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."  That makes relationships very fluid!  Jesus is saying that every person in the world is our family.

Cities and nations are more diverse than ever before, and we don't always understand the religious, social or political thinking of others.  A failure to seek common ground inevitably leads to broken communities.  We needn't agree on everything to be able to join together on whatever common ground we can find -- but that takes effort, a willingness to extend ourselves to our brothers, our sisters, to listen to them.  Then to care for them as beloved family members.