18^th February 2007: 7^th Sunday in Ordinary Time Year C

  Parents are delighted when a child takes on their better features. It starts at a young age too. When a parent hears the words, ‘She’s got your nose!’, or ‘He has his father’s eyes!’, his or her pleasure is tangible. I must confess (not being a mum myself) that most babies look similar and finding resemblances to a parent can often mean a hard search.

 Jesus desires that we take on family resemblances – he knows lots about family life too. He’s no stranger to things like moving home, losing a parent, learning a trade and supporting his mother, to name just a few. When he left home, his work was about forming a new type of family. He spoke repeatedly about its special identity. In today’s Gospel, when he talks about the characteristics of this new family, lots of people gather. This keynote talk however, is directed to one particular audience. It is directed to those who are extremely serious about following Jesus – those who want to take on all his family values.

 I am sure that nothing would give him more delight than to see his brothers and sisters take on family resemblances. There is none more challenging than the one we hear today. We are to find and love his features in everyone we meet.

                                                                                                      Sr. Kathryn, pddm