Because Jesus has risen, the family is now no longer defined by the blood line passed on from the father and mother. After the Resurrection of Jesus and our Baptism into Him, the family is defined by a new blood line — the blood of Christ. Obedient faith now defines the family of God which is sealed by the blood of Jesus (Lk 8:21).
God's call to join His family is so central that the very first paragraph of the Catechism of the Catholic Church mentions it. God "calls together all men [and women], scattered and divided by sin, into the unity of His family, the Church" (Catechism, 1). We renew our membership in His family by participating in the family meal, the Holy Eucharist.
No longer is it necessary to shed the blood of bulls, lambs, and goats (see Ezr 6:9ff) to demonstrate family loyalty. In joining the family of God through Baptism, we are begotten from above, baptized into Christ's death and Resurrection (see Rm 6:3ff). We give evidence of our loyalty to the family by hearing the Word of God and acting upon it (Lk 8:21; Mk 3:35). We now see everything in relation to our new family, the family of God.
God is our Father, Jesus is our Brother, Savior, and Lord, and the Holy Spirit sustains us. Mary is our mother, St. Joseph our spiritual father and protector, and all who believe in Christ are our brothers and sisters. "Becoming a disciple of Jesus means accepting the invitation to belong to God's family" (Catechism, 2233).
| PRAYER: | Jesus, may Your "blood be on us and on our children" (Mt 27:25). |
| PROMISE: | "I rejoiced because they said to me, 'We will go up to the house of the Lord.' " –Ps 122:1 |
| PRAISE: | Sts. Cosmas & Damian welcomed God's little ones by providing free medical care to those in need. They were martyred in Syria for their faith in Jesus. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College