Tuesday January 26th: No stumbling blocks

But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”

Mark 31:35

Jesus did not lack for a family support system as many of us do. So, it was not surprising that when the relatives felt something was wrong with him, they went to get him. However, Jesus, is giving us a serious lesson in discipleship when he says, “Who are my mother and my brothers?”
He points out that the people who are with him are his mother and brothers. The call of any disciple is to be with Jesus. If we are not with Jesus, even though we may be doing the world of good, we are not being disciples. Jesus puts a whole new meaning to family. Family is not blood but following what he did and taught. It is being his disciples and doing the Father’s will, just as he did.
Jesus is building his kingdom, and anyone, even family could become one of his followers in spreading the good news of this kingdom. At the same time, nothing, no one, not even family, must become stumbling blocks.