The next time that you are in church, look around you. Here are Jesus’ sisters and brothers. Here is the family of Jesus. Thank about it. Better yet, pray about it. Here’s a suggested prayer:
Lord, it is incredible that You call me “brother.” You call me “sister.” You know my name. You speak my name, just as you said, “Mary,” to Mary Magdalene on that Resurrection Day. You invite me to touch You with my heart and mind, just as You invited Thomas to touch Your wounds with his finger. Then You say to each of us: “Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” (John 20:29).
Give me the grace – give each of us the grace – to be true sisters and brothers to you. Help us to do the will of Your heavenly Father. Help us more and more to take on the family resemblance that as Your Body on earth, others might experience Your love and come to You. Help us truly to be Your hands,
Your voice and Your heart in the world. St. Augustine, in speaking about the Eucharist, has Jesus say to each of us: “I am your food, but instead of my being changed into You, it is You who will be transformed into me.” May we become whom You call us to be.
“Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”
Amen.
Jesuit Father John Michalowski is the parochial vicar of St. Peter Church in Charlotte.