WHO ARE YOU?: CHRISTIAN IDENTITY BASED DOING THE WILL OF GOD

2Titus 1:1-8 (I recall your sincere faith)

Mark 3:31-35

I knew of a man who hadn’t achieved much academically and economically. Most of his relatives did not look up to him. Yet, during funerals, other emergencies, and big events, everyone relied on him to communicate to all members of the extended family, because of differences and disputes among some family members. One might   say that they were abusing his generosity. This could be true to a certain extent. Yet, it is also true that he was valuable, because of who he was, rather than what he was to the family members. They saw in him a brother who could bring them together in times of need, and they all accepted his invitation to the family gatherings.

Sometimes, we Christians also fall into the trap of focusing on WHAT WE CAN DO (OR WHAT WE HAVE) rather than WHO WE ARE as a measure of our CHRISTIAN IDENTITY. Jesus is saying the contrary in today’s Gospel. He asks a question: “Who are my mother and my brothers [sisters]?” He responds,  thus, “... whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). This sounds insolent (insulting) to His mother Mary and other relatives. Nonetheless, Jesus provides us with a radical understanding of discipleship, which Mary embraces wholeheartedly. She follows her Son throughout His ministry and accompanies Him during His passion and death (John 19:25). As a result, she and other disciples experience His Resurrection and the outpouring of the Holy Spirit while they pray in the Upper Room (Acts 1:14; 2:1-4).

It’s not what we can do or what we have that gives us our Christian identity but doing God’s will. We become true believers, Christians, disciples, brothers and sisters when we do God’s will.

I once took an old woman in a wheelchair (she had became a “burden” to her immediate family members) to a hospice run by the  Charity Sisters of Mother Teresa of Calcutta, where she was looked after till her death. There, I found two sisters cleaning and treating a very big wound that covered the nape (back of the neck) of a man. They did so while chatting with and giving him encouragement. He was relaxed and seemed to ignore the pain. I must admit that I really struggled to look at the wound; it scared me. Yet the man needed help, which the two nuns gave him with care. Other sisters were attending to other patients. The sister in charge at the hospice encouraged me to bring in more people in great need, which I did later.

Indeed, the sisters were and are still doing God’s will. That is what gives them their Christian identity as Religious sisters. There are millions of other Christians believers doing God’s will to serve the common good. These are also true disciples, followers, brothers and sisters of Christ, who are putting their talents to good use. Unfortunately, there also some believers who do not use their talents well. For example, some think of what they can do with their power, authority and money to oppress and manipulate others, rather than promoting justice, equality, unity and the wellbeing of all. Their acts are a countersign to true discipleship.

Lord, help us not to take pride in what we can do or what we have. Instead, give us the grace to follow you and do your will, so that we can be true Christian believers. Amen.