Today's feastday celebrates the dedication of Mary to God, in view of her future role as mother of Christ. It's not an event that the scriptuires record. So the gospel we listen to is a more general one, about discipleship of Jesus. Like what Jesus said elsewhere about having to "hate" one's parents and family in order to follow Him, this gospel also may seem rather harsh and unfeeling. Jesus was busy teaching crowds when someone came and told Him His mother and relatives were outside and wanted to speak with Him. He just said to the messenger, "Who's my mother? Who are my brothers?" Then, in a gesture that seems like a blessing, a confirmation, or even an ordination, He stretched out His hand towards His disciples and pointed to them as being mother and brothers to Him.

He's saying, strongly, that in the new Kingdom it's not blood-lines and clan relationships that build the family of God. Anyone who does the will of His Father in heaven is Jesus' family. And of course, Our Lady is in fact most outstanding as someone who does the will of God. No doubt on that gospel occasion Jesus did go to Mary and hear what she wanted to talk to Him about, but only after having attended to the listening crowd. It was Mary's mark of faith and acceptance of God's will that she waited patiently for Him. That's the new relationship that joins Jesus to all His disciples, and all of us who belong to His Body.