From the very beginning, it should have been clear how important a family is. By creating Adam and Eve to be with each other, God has shown that we were made for love, and therefore, we were made for family.
Later in the Gospels, however, there are certain Bible verses that made us think again about the importance of family.
Two instances could make us think that God does not want us to value our families.
The first one is when we read in our English Bible translations the following verses:
“If any one comes to me without hating his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.” – Luke 14:26, NABRE
The other one is this:
“A crowd seated around him told him, ‘Your mother and your brothers [and your sisters] are outside asking for you.’ But he said to them in reply, ‘Who are my mother and [my] brothers?’ And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. [For] whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’” – Mark 3:32-35, NABRE
Were we wrong to think about the importance of our families?
No. But some of us are wrong in interpreting the above verses to mean that we should hate our families.
The first one should be understood within its proper context. Jesus did not literally mean that we should hate our parents. Why should God command us in the Ten Commandments to honor our parents if we should hate them instead?
“Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land the LORD your God is giving you.” – Exodus 20:12, NABRE
To hate here only means that we should love another more, and in this case, that means that we should love God above all.
If we love our parents so much, then we should love God all the more.
In the second instance where Jesus told us that it isn’t only our biological relatives that matter, He never meant to take away the importance of one’s family. On the contrary, He meant to expand it and to make us understand its true value!
Not everyone can be related to Jesus biologically, but we can all be His brothers and sisters if we do the will of God.
“But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.”- John 1:12-13, NABRE
As for the holy family, Jesus never neglected His earthly parents. The Bible tells us that He was obedient to them:
“He went down with them and came to Nazareth, and was obedient to them.” – Luke 2:51, NABRE
Regarding Mary, His mother, He did not disrespect her when He told everyone that His real mother is the one who does the will of God. In truth, He lifted her up because that’s precisely what Mary does. In everything that Mary did, she followed the will of God.
Mary’s assent to surrender to the will of God was very clear when the angel announced the birth of Jesus:
“Mary said, ‘Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.’” – Luke 1:38, NABRE
When Mary asked Jesus to turn water into wine, this is what Mary told the servers who would assist in filling the jars:
“Do whatever he tells you.” – John 2:5, NABRE
Jesus NEVER neglected her. When He was dying upon the cross, He even asked John to take care of her and treat her as his own:
“Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother.’” – John 19:27, NABRE
Everywhere we look, we see how important the family is in the Bible.
How many apostles were siblings? Didn’t Jesus call Peter and his brother Andrew? Didn’t He also call James and John?
Mary, Martha and Lazarus were also siblings.
Even in the Old Testament, the importance of families was very evident.
When Abraham was called, it was not only to Him that the blessing was promised but to future generations through Him.
“I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you.” – Genesis 12:2, NABRE
When God chose to save a few from the Great Flood, He chose to save a family – Noah’s family.
“Go into the ark, you and all your household, for you alone in this generation have I found to be righteous before me.” – Genesis 7:1, NABRE
It was God Himself who designed the family.
“Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and the two of them become one body.” – Genesis 2:24, NABRE
Through the family, the faith is grown and passed on.
We were created to be like this when we were made in the very image of God!
“God created mankind in his image; in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27, NABRE
Let us remember that God is Love.
And Love is family. Love is the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit of Love.
Let us never forget the importance of the family. Each one of us has been born into a family. Even for those of us who may no longer have them, we are invited to become a part of God’s spiritual family and to be His own children.
No one is meant to be alone. And with God and the family He has planned for us, we will never be alone.
“Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ loved the church.” – Ephesians 5:25, NABRE
“If you want to bring happiness to the whole world, go home and love your family.” – Mother Teresa
You may also want to read “Which Religion Is About Relationships?”
Jocelyn Soriano writes about relationships and the Catholic faith at Single Catholic Writer. She is the author of 366 Days of Compassion, To Love an Invisible God and Mend My Broken Heart.
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