Luke's Gospel today, albeit short, is deep in its meaning of being part of God's family. First of all, being part of God's family includes being obedient to the Word of God and actively practicing it. "My mother and My brothers are those who hear the Word of God and put it into practice" (v21). Thus, our shared faith and obedience to the Word of God binds us together more deeply than blood ties. It does not downplay the ties that Jesus has towards His mother and brothers. It only means that in God's kinship, we are summoned to treat no one as outsiders to the kingdom of heaven. Everyone is given equal opportunity to be inside Jesus' kinship by being receptive to words of the author of life, God. Regardless of background, race or status, we are invited to live as equal heirs in God's communion - being adopted into the Divine unity of Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

While Mary is biologically Jesus' mother, her true inside connection is in her obedience to the Word of God, demonstrated by her devoted "Yes" to the angel Gabriel at the Annunciation. She is no longer an outsider. Her whole acceptance of the Word indicates Jesus' receptiveness of her into His human and divine domain. By assuming her role as Jesus' mother, she opens the door for everyone to be insiders, and not aliens in God's fellowship.