Over the years the make-up of the family has changed. Originally it was mum and dad and the three children. But grandparents, cousins, the children’s partners and even work colleagues and lodgers have become part of the popular sitcom.Perhaps the changing dynamics of this fictional family reflect the changing understanding of what makes a family in the West today.
‘Family’ can have many different connotations and include adopted and fostered children, single-parent families, separated families and same-sex parents.
Families can be small and very large. (A Romanian family living in Canada is reported to have 18 children. The couple said they never intended to have so many children, but were thrilled nonetheless.)
Different cultures have varied ideas of what makes a family. In some, generations will live their whole lives side by side, whereas in others parents live miles away from their grown-up children and have very little contact.
In his Gospel, Mark recounts an incident involving Jesus and his family.
Because people were keen to hear what he had to say, Jesus was often surrounded by crowds. Sometimes he and his disciples wouldn’t even get the chance to break for something to eat. His family heard about this and went to see him.
They arrived outside the house where Jesus was speaking, and he was told they were waiting. Instead of going out to meet them Jesus posed the question: ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ (Mark 3:33 New International Version).
That may sound harsh, but what did Jesus mean? As he looked around him at those who were listening he added: ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother’ (3:34, 35).
Jesus didn’t narrow his definition of family to his own flesh and blood. He extended it to include everyone who believed in him. Even today, if we are prepared to follow him and live the way he shows us, we can all be part of God’s family.
UK War Cry - August 2010
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