Focus

Let yourself become open to God and the knowledge that comes from the Word. Ask God for peace at this time.

Read

Luke 8:16-21 (NRSV)

“No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.” Then his mother and his brothers came to him, but they could not reach him because of the crowd. And he was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to see you.” But he said to them, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and do it.”

Reflect

How many political campaigns have been dealt a fatal blow when some incriminating incident from the candidate’s past comes to light? How does it make you feel to read that Jesus said nothing remains hidden and everything comes to light sooner or later? If you could choose one incident from your past and somehow ensure that absolutely nobody else would ever know about it, what incident would you choose?

Jesus probably wasn’t ignoring or dismissing his mother and brothers when they came looking for him. He was just using the moment to illustrate a teaching point: a relationship of blood (like the Jewish people had with Abraham) isn’t what makes a family in God’s eyes. A relationship of law (like the Pharisees had with God, or we have with our in-laws) isn’t what makes a family in God’s eyes. God’s idea of a family is different.

If you could choose one incident from your past and somehow tell the whole world about it, what would you choose? The only such story really worth telling the world is the one about how you were adopted by God to become a brother or sister to Jesus.

Pray

Thank you, God, for adopting me as your own child. Help me to be a light in this dark world, illuminating your grace and mercy offered through Jesus, my brother. Amen.

Go with God.