The mission of Jesus calls forth a new bond of relationship with Him - one no longer limited by blood ties - but a commitment to a venture: the fulfillment of the Father's will. As lowly servant of God, Mary responded totally to God's plan for the world. To her being able to do God's will is a greater blessing than being related to Jesus by blood.

Stretching out His hands over the "crowd" before Him, in a gesture of blessing, Jesus dismisses any inhibitive man-made, negative force that could hinder the new covenantal relationship with Him that He was inaugurating.

The nature of our commitment to God's word is not only giving one's services but joining in the new way of being human in a community. It is a realization that God can no longer be contained in a limited space within a Temple made by human hands for He Himself has come to make His dwelling among us, beyond boundaries and barriers.

And lest we forget, our family, based on blood relationship has the mission of initiating its members into a spiritual community, the ideal of every Christian family.