We live in a world that tries to divide us into “us and them.” In doing so we create enemies out of those who are other: the police are the other, black folk are the other, Mexican immigrants are the other, Muslims are the other. Hunkering down behind our barricades creates tension and fear. Jesus proposes another way. When he is told his own people are there to see him he widens the circle of those he considers to be his own. “For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father
is my brother, and sister, and mother.” For us to counter the divisions in society we must imitate Jesus and find what connects us instead of what divides us.
