Whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother

‘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

In the previous passage of our daily readings, Jesus was upbraiding those whose caustic criticism prevented them from perceiving the spiritual reality that is in his ministry. They asked him for a sign of his holiness, or messiahship. These legalistic criticisms come from a failure to recognize the nature of mercy behind the law, a kind of faith in form. He called them an "adulterous generation." It is important to note that this is a term from the Old Testament prophets, used to denote an "unfaithful" Israel. The story about the unclean spirits is an elaboration on this theme of infidelity, of those who cannot perceive spiritual reality because their hearts are hardened. A "waterless region" or desert was considered the traditional abode of unclean spirits (or demons), a place for the righteous to do spiritual battle and face temptation. What Jesus is expressing here is the notion that those whose faith is not solid nor strong are always vulnerable. Without vigilance, we are always vulnerable to ways of thinking that mislead us and keep us from seeing the truth. Unless our hearts are open to spiritual reality, we turn toward that which misleads. So, he is making an analogy to the "present generation" that has failed, after repeated visits by those who have led them through spiritual difficulty, to understand and perceive and has turned away from spiritual instruction. Those who have claimed that he cast out demons by Beelzebul are now named as those who are misled. Without the strong relatedness to the reality of the Father and the kingdom, it is they who are vulnerable and weak, and "their last state is worse than the first."

The story of Jesus' mother and brothers awaiting him is quite interestingly juxtaposed with these teachings about the "evil and adulterous generation." Jesus has already taught that his ministry will not bring peace but a sword, that his teachings will pit relative against relative. Here, the response to the word that his relatives are outside is not a condemnation of family relationships nor is it disparaging of his own relatives. Rather, he's illustrating a point about relationship and family within the terms of spiritual teaching and ministry. Relatedness is conferred through this spiritual reality of the Father. This is a theme that will surface over and over again throughout all of the gospels, and will be most eloquently elaborated upon in the Last Supper dialogue in John's gospel.

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.’

In contrast to the "adulterous generation," Jesus points to those who are true, those with whom he is truly related through faith in the Father and the spiritual reality wherein it is possible to discern and do the Father's will. In contrast to those whose faith is shaky, who fail to perceive and are therefore open to every temptation and misleading notion, are those whose strong internal relationship to the Father is solid. Therein is conferred true relatedness, relationship to Christ. These, in contrast to the infidelity of the "adulterous generation," he calls his brother and sister and mother.

I think it's important to consider the notion of relationship in terms of spiritual standing. It is clear that for Jesus' teachings, all true relationship comes through the Father. Relationship in these gospels can connote a shared understanding and awareness, the ability to see and to perceive - to have spiritual eyes and ears. He has spoken of the revelation by the Father and through the Son in relation to those who can receive it. We understand the relatedness of his disciples - the apostles sent on their first mission, who are told to give their peace to all, and that it will rest with those who are able to receive it, and return to the apostles from those who do not. All connote notions of relatedness and relationship, stemming from the Father. The Father of All is called so because He is the Source of relationship in love and mercy. How do we today cultivate this understanding and relatedness within ourselves? Can we see our connectedness to others through love, and cultivate the eyes and ears necessary to perceive and receive spiritual reality? How do we discern the will of the Father ourselves? How do we perceive with our hearts?