Jesus said, “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?” And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers.” Matthew 12:48-49
All the references to Jesus’ family life are more disturbing than consoling. It is clear to me that Jesus is quite ambivalent, if not negative, about so-called family values, such as family harmony, filial affection, staying together at all costs. I wonder if the church’s elevation of celibacy, especially for those who want to serve God, does not have its roots in the quite disturbing situation of Jesus’ own family. Family is where we grow up into adult, mature people, but we have to leave our families to fulfill our deepest vocation. Family can give us a sense of belonging, but in order to claim our deepest belonging, our belonging to God, we have to move away from those who pretend to know us and discover the deepest source of our lives. Our parents, brothers, and sisters do not own us. Without leaving them it is hard to fully be free and listen to the One who called us before we were born. Jesus often had to say no to his family in order to be able to say a full yes to his Father in heaven.
Henri J.M. Nouwen
Originally published July 1st, 2007
