Make others dance with joy!

Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time

2 Sam 6: 12-19; Mk 3:31-35

Every society gives a lot of importance to family relations and kinship bonds. When someone is born into our family, we try and see which side he or she resembles most. We have heirlooms which are passed on from one generation to another, together with family traditions and family names. Another reason why are so conscious of our kinship bonds is because of inheritance.

In the society when Jesus lived, family relations and kinship bonds were given even more importance than we do nowadays. Although they would usually be extended families, one family was clearly demarcated from another with clear boundaries. The reason was that resources were scarce and therefore they wanted to make sure they know who is going to get married to whom and who will inherit their land.

In today's Gospel, Jesus transgresses this social norm yet again, as we often see him do in the Gospel of Mark. He opens up his family relations not only to those who are linked with him through blood bonds but through anyone who listens to his word and does it.

To our ears, this might sound a bit like an offence against Mary but in fact it is a compliment and praise like no other. We can appreciate this even better in the light of the first reading.

In fact, the first reading is in a certain way very similar to the Mary's visiting Elizabeth after the annunciation. Let us recall what the ark of God was, that we hear about in the first reading. It was a big ornate box which reminded them not only of the presence of God but even more of the promise, the covenant that God did with His People. Within it there were the two stone tablets of the Ten Commandments, the Aaron's rod and a pot of manna.

What did Mary become after the annunciation? She became the Ark of the New Covenant. Because she heard the Logos, the Word of God and received it wholeheartedly, she became the very bearer of the New Covenant of God. Within her there was not the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments and Aaron's Rod which sybolised the Law, but Jesus himself who is the New Law of Love. Within here there was not a pot of manna but the Bread of Life, Jesus himself.

Therefore when Elizabeth greets Mary, John leaps in her womb, almost mimicking the same dancing that David did in front of the arc of the God. And all this because Mary heard the word of God and did it.

May Jesus look at us and say the same words that he told the crowd, "These are my mother and brothers and sisters, for they hear the word of God and they do it." In doing so, may we imitate the Arc of the New Covenant and be a sign of joy for others.