Jesus said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.” Almost a year ago my brother was having a health crisis and he was not doing what he needed to do to get healthy. I flew to Baltimore and told him that I would be with him whether he took the path to better health or not. He was my brother and I would love him no matter what. (He did choose health and is now much better.) Jesus expanding the notion of family beyond those we are biologically related to challenges us. There isn’t anyone out there that doesn’t have a claim on us when they are going through the crisis of the moment. While I am not able to fix whatever the problem is, I can companion another person as they make their decision whether to act on the word of God or not. All too often it is the feeling of carrying the load alone that makes whatever trouble we re going through seem overwhelming.
