Third week, Tuesday in Ordinary Time, January 28, 2008

Scripture: II Samuel 6:12-15,17-19. Psalm 40:2.4.7-8.10-11. Mark 3:31-35.
Lectionary # 318:

Often the Psalm response captures the readings or at least one of them.
Today our Psalm with its response is a perfect fit for David's action of
bringing back the ark of the covenant to the city of David, Zion
(Jerusalem). He dances before the ark with abandon and exhilaration as it
is being carried to the gates of his city. It will be God's presence among
the Israelites and David will be blessed in his efforts to unite both Juda
and Israel. God is the King of Israel and David realizes that his own
kingship is subservient to God's. Therefore, he will be the most
remembered and revered king of Israel for his own reign would always be
under the guidance of God. Even when he sins or fails the people, he
repents and therefore is rightfully called David the beloved of God. He
always remembers what the Psalm brings to mind for us, "Who is the king of
glory? The Lord of hosts; he is the king of glory!" As we turn to the
reading from Mark's Gospel we see that Jesus who is called a son of David
as well as a son of Mary is in a teaching situation. The listeners are
gathered around him in a circle. Like David he is showing them that they
really belong to God and then to one another as humans. His own blood
relations come searching for him in the area where he is in a home. This
is one of those very early reminiscenses that Mark shares with us in the
springtime of Jesus' Galilean ministry. Jesus' teaches about relationships
and the cost of discipleship. The selection is really a Christology of
relationships. Those listening--nd that includes us --are to be his
brothers and sisters, yes, and even his mother! The Semitic dramatic way
of illustrating a sound teaching is with such striking examples. Jesus is
not concerned about his duty or dependence on his earthly family. He
wants everyone to be a follower of him and do the Father's will. God is
his father in this Gospel; no one else. Our relationship is to be like his
in our love and trust in God. He tells us, "Whoever does the will of God
is brother, and sister, and mother to me." Jesus' life and his eventual
sacrificial death will purify all blood lines so that we may through faith
and being called become disciples of his in doing the will of God. He is
lifting us up from our family ties to that of discipleship. We are to
follow him and listen to him. We are the eschatological family of Jesus
through this call to discipleship and we become members of that community
of believers by doing the will of God and listenting to the words of God
through Jesus' teaching. Amen.