Today’s gospel is, in its own way, part of a thread in Mark’s gospel in which the nature of the family of God is slowly revealed.

• In Mark 3:7-12, Jesus is calling and appointing 12 as apostles, the foundation of the family of the Church
• In v.21, Jesus’ biological family arrives on the scene: “When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 
• In v.35, we hear Jesus proclaim: “Here are my mother and my brothers. [For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Between chapters 3 and 6, the “family” grows as people witness the teachings and mighty deeds/miracles of Jesus and come to believe in Jesus. Continue reading →