Posted by The WORD in other words (2018) by Fr Michael Layugan SVD – Divine Word Seminary, Tagaytay City
Tuesday 25th Week in Ordinary Time
I was once asked whether Jesus had real brothers. This person even quoted the verse of today’s reading.
Without understanding the proper context and meaning of the passage, however, one can jump into conclusions that indeed that is so. With this notion, problems arise as regards certain teachings concerning the Blessed Virgin. If we take the passage literally, Mary’s perpetual virginity, as taught by the Church for centuries, will be questioned. Mary remained a virgin before, during and after her conception.
Properly understood in its cultural context, the word “brothers” in the Jewish tradition can also mean a relative. In some cultures, one calls a cousin or a distant relative “brother”. In fact, Jesus, if he really had brothers, would have entrusted his mother to one of them when he was about to die. Instead, He entrusted her to one of his disciples.
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