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A Mary T. Hoffman Commentary from All-Creatures.org

 

"Joyful Curmudgeon" An oxymoron?
No! I see all the beauty of God's creation and I'm joyful.  At the same time, I see all the suffering and corruption going on in the world, and feel called to help expose and end it so that we may have true peace and compassion.

 


“Who is My mother and who are My brothers?” – 23 January 2007
By Mary T. Hoffman

Matthew 12:46-50

46 While He [Jesus] was still speaking to the multitudes, behold, His mother and brothers were standing outside, seeking to speak to Him.

47 And someone said to Him, "Behold, Your mother and Your brothers are standing outside seeking to speak to You."

48 But He answered the one who was telling Him and said, "Who is My mother and who are My brothers?"

49 And stretching out His hand toward His disciples, He said, "Behold, My mother and My brothers!

50 "For whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, he is My brother and sister and mother."
~ New American Standard Bible

Yesterday I wrote about the cowardly submissive and about those who know better but continue to “go with the crowd.” As an example I mentioned family traditions such as hunting.

In Matthew 12:46-50, Jesus tells us that our real “family” is composed of those who seek to do God’s will. That doesn’t mean that those who have been enlightened by the Holy Spirit of God are to stop loving or be unpleasant in any way to members of their human or biological family if they are heading in the wrong direction. Besides, those who truly follow Jesus cannot stop loving others – even when they can no longer participate in their ungodly activities.

Most people have been conditioned since childhood to accept as “normal” or “fun” many things that involve unnecessary pain and suffering – from what is eaten: flesh, dairy, eggs, seafood – to what is worn: leather, wool, and fur – to animal “entertainment”: circuses, dog racing, etc. Add to the list: hunting, fishing, capital punishment, abortion, wars….

There are those who respond to the Holy Spirit’s prompting and begin to educate themselves and to face the truth about the hidden and not-so-hidden cruelty surrounding them. They determine to live by a higher standard; eliminating from their lives, as much as possible, those things that contribute to the emotional and physical torment and the bloodshed so rampant in this world.

We don’t have to follow along with the cruel traditions of our human families. We can follow the gentle and peacemaking teachings of Jesus, and truly become members of His family.

Go on to: “Unclean Spirit” – 24 January 2007
Return to: Cowardly Submissive – 22 January 2007
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