Passage
While [Jesus] was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, ‘Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.’ But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ And pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’
Matthew 12.46-50
(NRSV; Greek interlinear)
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Imaginative meditation
Invite the Holy Spirit to inspire and guide your meditation. Spend some time focusing on being present and attentive.
Take a few moments to imagine your back story. You come from Jesus’ home town. Maybe you have been travelling around with him for a while now. You are not sure why, but you feel drawn to be with him. You are one among many followers and maybe you are the one do the fetching and carrying in the group. You have often been overlooked and perhaps taken for granted, and never feel very important.
Spend some time imagining yourself in the scene. Is it still the cool of the morning? Or is it already hot? How full is the house? Does the crowd spill outside? Can you see Jesus? What is he saying, and how is he saying it?
Now you are looking around the room. Who else is there? What do you think and how do you feel about them? How are they behaving towards Jesus? Are they paying him attention? Are they hostile or are they expectant?
You notice his mother and brothers outside. Are they expected or are you surprised? How do you feel about their presence? Jesus is continuing to teach. How do you feel about interrupting him and directing his attention a different way? Do you wait a while, or do you blurt it out?
Briefly notice the response of the room to what you say. Then turn your focus back to Jesus. How does he respond? He turns to you and says something. How does he say it? What is in his face? What does he say with his body? How do you experience his words? Spend some time in that moment.
Now Jesus stretches out his hand to the disciples, and then to the whole room. What does he say? Who is he speaking to? How do they respond? How do you respond now? What are you thinking and feeling?
Is there something you want to say to Jesus now? Spend some time just with him in your imagination.
When you are ready, come slowly back to the present. Give thanks to God for what you have been given. Pray that the thread may not be broken as you continue to go through your day.
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Try meditating on the story from different viewpoints:
- Someone arrives with the family and pushes their way in from the outside
- A disciple, or a scribe or Pharisee
- An onlooker inside the room or outside the house
- A member of Jesus’ family
