Mark 3:33Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Understanding this principle reveals that all of Mary’s relatives can be considered as brothers of Christ. However, the disciples are emphasized as brothers, for even relatives would not be regarded as His brothers unless they were His followers, nor would they be His brothers without acknowledging Him as their Master. On one occasion, when it was conveyed to Him that His mother and brothers were waiting outside while He taught His disciples, He asked, ‘Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?’ Then He pointed to His disciples and declared, ‘Here are My brothers. Whoever does the will of My Father is My brother and sister and mother’ (cf. Matthew 12:46-50). This implies that Mary is indeed His mother, for she acted in accordance with the Father's will. The Lord exalted her because she followed the Father’s will, rather than merely because she bore Him physically. Listen to this, beloved! Furthermore, when the amazed crowd witnessed the Lord’s miracles and the truths He revealed beyond human understanding, some remarked, ‘Blessed is the womb that bore Him’ (Luke 11:27). Yet, He replied, ‘Blessed are those who hear the word of God and obey it’ (Lk. 11:28). He intended to convey that even His Mother, whom some deemed fortunate, found true happiness in adhering to the word of God, not simply because the Word became flesh and dwelt among us (Jn. 1:14), but because she fulfilled the will of the Word Himself, through whom she was created and who took on flesh within her. Let not people take delight in temporary relationships; rather, may they find joy in their spiritual union with God.

The Hebrew Compendium provides an answer: certainly, all righteous individuals are remembered with praises. Yet, why does the Holy Church set aside a special solemnity for the memory of the Blessed Virgin Mary above that of other saints and righteous figures? The simplest explanation emerges from Elizabeth’s prophetic insight: Mary is the Mother of our Lord.

However, we confront a perplexing situation presented by the Gospel. The Mother of the Lord, whom Elizabeth recognized and brought to our attention early on, becomes mysteriously obscured. The Lord Himself poses the question, "Who is My Mother?" It is inconceivable that He was unaware of His Mother or intended to deny her; thus, when He asks, "Who is My Mother?" it suggests either ignorance or rejection. The inquiry compels us to consider—does He not recognize her? Or knowing her, does He deny her? Such notions are implausible. To pose the question, "Who is My Mother?" insinuates a lack of recognition or acknowledgment. And what do we, when we honor the blessed Mother of our Lord, aim to do—please Him and draw closer to Him through her—if He seems to put distance between Himself and her? It may appear as if He sidesteps her, unwilling to acknowledge her.

"Do not be troubled, O singers of the Theotokos, by this complex thought. It should not lead us to doubt but rather reinforce our understanding of her divine honor, as well as grasp the holy teachings of her Son and God." The Evangelist Mark tells us, "The people sat around Him and said, 'Your mother and Your brothers are outside seeking You.' And He answered, 'Who is My mother or My brethren?'" (Mark 3:32-33). It's evident that He found it reasonable to be estranged from His brethren, as at that time they were deserving of such separation since, as John the Evangelist points out, "neither His brethren believed in Him" (John 7:5). The Hebrew Compendium adds: Their failure to recognize Him in the realm of grace will justly result in His non-recognition of them in the realm of nature. Furthermore, even apart from their unbelief, justice appears in their status as mere kin, purportedly related to Him through Joseph, the supposed father. Thus, by denying His so-called earthly brothers, the Lord affirms the higher truth of His Divine origin.

But how does His mother endure a similar situation as His brothers do? She is not a mere figment but the genuine mother of His humanity, and she never degraded this honorable role by doubting Him as the true Son of God. The faith by which she accepted Him—before His earthly conception at the Annunciation—far surpasses that of all other believers. When Jesus was recognized as Savior by the shepherds while still in the manger, and later when, at the age of twelve, he articulated His purpose in the Temple with profound words, saying, "In My Father's house it is necessary for Me to be" (Luke 2:49), His Mother’s faith spurred her to treasure "all these words in her heart" (Lk. 2:19). Before He had "manifested" His glory, when His disciples came to believe in Him (John 2:11), His Mother had already acknowledged His miraculous potential with such conviction that she prompted Him to perform His first miracle at the wedding in Cana. Thus, she predated and surpassed others in her belief and understanding of Him. Yet, when He states, "Who is My Mother?" He refrains from associating the title with her, expressing instead, "What is there for Me and you?" (Jn. 2:4). And again, He refers to her from the cross with the words, "Woman, behold your son" (Jn. 19:26).

Lord! We do not seek to challenge Your deeds, but rather we desire to grasp Your salvific wisdom. Do not hold our inquiries against us. We sinful and unworthy individuals do not wish to criticize Your holy works; we yearn for understanding.

Is it truly necessary to caution you, Christians, against thinking that the Lord does not fully honor His Blessed Mother? It is hardly essential, as He has provided a universal caution against such misunderstandings—just as He told the Jews that He did not come to abolish the law or the prophets, but to fulfill them (Matthew 5:17). Thus, without doubt, He did not negate but rather fulfilled the commandment to "Honor thy father and thy mother." Indeed, during His youth, despite being aware of His divine purpose, when His parents who did not comprehend it attempted to pull Him away from conversing with the teachers of the law in the temple, He, though still young, was compelled to obey them (Luke 2:51).

Ultimately, when the anguish of the cross bore down upon Him, with His body afflicted and suspended between life and death for the salvation of the world, neither the torments of hell nor the weight of the world quenched His sense of obligation to His Mother. This duty, which could not be fulfilled because of His impending death, He entrusted to John, who, through purity and love, became a worthy servant of the Virgin-Mother. In this instance, as in all others, He demonstrated the perfection of honoring one's parents and caring for them, extending even through death and into eternity. If our Lord exhibited such profound respect for His Mother during such trying moments, it is only fair to conclude that in those instances He seemed distant from Her—this distance was not one of contempt, but rather a testament to the significant duties of His earthly mission. Bear in mind His teaching: "Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and whoever loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me" (Matthew 10:37). In teaching this, He had to embody it through His actions, highlighting that "the one who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven must do and teach" (Matt. 5:19).

Thus, it was essential for the Lord to demonstrate in His earthly existence how He loved His Mother wholly but never "more than" His heavenly Father, prioritizing His divine mission over familial ties. Observe how this reasoning elucidates His actions, which may initially appear perplexing. When His Mother asks Him to perform a miracle by turning water into wine at a wedding, it is important to recognize that miracles are meant to glorify God, not to appease human desires. Therefore, pleasing His Mother might have to be sacrificed, and for the perfection of this sacrifice, He momentarily sets aside the very concept and identity of motherhood in addressing her, asking, "What is there for Me and you?" However, once this act of sacrifice is fulfilled, and the moment arrives to manifest God's glory, the miracle occurs.

When His Mother and brothers sought to take Him away from sharing heavenly truths with the crowd, their intentions may have seemed good, fearing for His safety against accusations of violence or working through demons. Yet, had He conformed to the desires of His kin, it could have adversely affected God's cause—not only by prematurely halting His preaching but also by enabling His adversaries to claim that He needed their protection. Thus, in this sacrifice, He offered all His love for His beloved Mother, together with the very thought of her.

"Who is My mother?" This question speaks volumes: "Why would you wish to pull Me away from fulfilling the will of My heavenly Father in favor of the will of My earthly Mother?" When these two wills move in opposite directions, I know, and I will show you which to follow. I disavow earthly kinship as though it does not exist; My complete devotion rests with the heavenly Father and His kingdom. If it is necessary to have a family, then "Who is My mother or My brother?" They are those who are "born of God,” as John tells us, "who believe in His name, who are not born of blood, nor of the will of flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God" (John 1:12-13); or also, "If anyone does the will of God, this is My brother, and this is My sister, and this is My mother" (Matt. 12:50).

You see, Christians, that the Lord does not neglect His Mother, who deserves all respect; rather, He instructs us in truth and righteousness both by His words and His actions. When parents, relatives, or authority figures demand from you actions contrary to your understanding, your desires, or your nature—yet are necessary, beneficial, or at least not harmful—be prepared to sacrifice those personal inclinations for the sake of obedience. Remember Jesus, the Wisdom of God, who "obeyed Joseph the carpenter." Likewise, when your loved ones seek comfort, assistance, or service while you are in need, in sorrow, or in weakness, muster the last of your strength; set aside your pain to alleviate theirs, sharing with them your last resources.

However, if the misguided desires of your parents or respected individuals lead you away from your sacred obligations to God, entangling you in acts that violate your conscience or jeopardize your soul's salvation, then reflect on Jesus’ question: "Who is My mother or My brother?" Remember, you possess a divine kinship; God is your Father, the Church is your Mother, and all who fulfill God's will, all the Saints, are your brothers and sisters—or at least they desire to be. Do not devalue this high calling; do not separate yourself from such a noble family. Rather, pursue God's will instead of human will, so that the Lord may acknowledge you, saying, "This is My mother and My brothers." Amen.

Her brothers accompanied her with the intention of bringing Him back home. However, the Lord discerned this devious plot set by His adversaries. "What is the significance of referring to mother and brothers? The Son of Man indeed has a mother and brothers. Yet those who hear and accept the word of life are, to me, both mother and brethren."

Subsequently, when asked for a sign, Christ learned of His family’s arrival and responded by indicating His faithful disciples, declaring them to be His true mother and brothers, thus affirming a profound spiritual kinship with them that surpasses that of His earthly relatives, unless the latter too are His devoted followers.

When Christ commissioned the Apostles to preach, He declared, “Whoever loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me” (Matthew 10:37). Moreover, He did not permit one of His disciples to attend his father's burial, indicating that He needed to exemplify how to honor His commandments. Thus, in a pivotal moment, He illustrated that executing His heavenly Father's will took precedence over His earthly mother’s desires. However, this does not imply a rejection or lack of concern for His mother; He demonstrated His devotion to her at the Crucifixion by entrusting her care to His cherished disciple.

Our knowledge of events in Jesus Christ's ministry during the time of the Apostles preaching to the lost sheep of the house of Israel (Matthew 10:6) is limited. This accounts for the scarcity of details about this phase of the Lord’s ministry, as the Apostles were not with Him during this time—those very witnesses from whom the Gospel narratives were derived. The absence of such testimony in the Evangelists’ accounts lends credence to the authenticity of their writings, as they refrained from presenting what they did not witness firsthand or could not confirm through reliable sources. This lack of detail corresponded to a significant duration; as the Apostles were sent in pairs, they divided the regions inhabited by Jews in Palestine into six sections. Thus, they could not have quickly visited even one-sixth of these places without haste. The length of their preaching is unknown, but we do know they returned before the Passover (John 6:4), which was the third since Jesus’ Baptism.

It was as if He proclaimed, "Why would you divert Me from fulfilling the will of My Father in heaven for the wishes of My earthly mother? Who is My mother? And who are My brethren?" As He gestured toward His disciples, He stated, "Here are My mother and My brethren; for whoever does the will of My Father who is in heaven, that person is My brother and sister and mother," or, as Luke writes, "My mother and My brethren are those who hear the word of God and act on it" (8:21). In these statements, the Lord did not distance His mother, in the flesh, from the joy of hearing and performing the word of God, as she was among the first to hear and obey it more fervently than others. Instead, in clever accordance with His mother’s desire to eschew earthly honor, He elevated all who hear and fulfill God's word, or as Blessed Theophylact explains, He did not deny natural kinship but enriched it with a bond of virtue.