This week we get to see family in new terms. Jesus knows it means blood and origins and where we come from. At least in so far as we make that the important thing.

We also know it to be more than that. And we now have a phrase for this bigger vision: chosen family. Which means we recognize the idea of family needs to be bigger. Because the nuclear family is too small, and ultimately, a pretty new invention.

This different orientation has been part of the faith from the beginning. We speak of one another as siblings in Christ and as childrenof God. But the orientation feels difficult to treat as “real”. We long to speak of the closeness that is part of relationships, but feel tied to a boundary Jesus himself breaks.

It takes courage to expand our sense of family. To see so many others on this common journey are our closest siblings.