Thursday, May 15
A FAMILY BY CHOICE
ESTHER 2:7
“My mother and my brothers are those who hear God’s word and
put it into practice.”
Luke 8:21
A family is not defined only by blood
relations or parentage, but also through the emotional bonds of personal
relationships born of mutual respect and assertive communication. A strong family bond was established between
Jesus and his disciples, a bond that transcended the societal norms of the
times. Jesus placed an equal (and on
occasions, a greater) measure of trust in those men and women than on his own
biological family. An example of this is
found in the words Jesus directed to his mother and to his beloved disciple
John as he hung on the cross. (John 19:26-27) With those words, “from that
moment on, the disciple took Mary into his home.” In this way, the experience of an extended
family was acknowledged. We do the same
thing today when we acknowledge as family members those people with whom we
feel as closely tied as our blood relatives.
The relationship becomes even closer, more intimate and more confiding. Who among us has not found in a friend the
sibling that was always desired? Or who doesn’t treasure a father or a mother,
not related by blood, but who is nevertheless there to support or defend us? They also are our family and without them we
would not be the people we are today.
Prayer: Oh God, I thank you for the people who, without being tied to me
through blood, have entered my life and become part of my family. Bless these persons and allow me to also
become for them that close family member who is willing to support them
unconditionally.
LA FAMILIA ESCOGIDA
ESTHER 2:7
“Mi madre y mis hermanos son todos
aquellos que
escuchan y obedecen el mensaje de Dios”
Lucas 8:21
Una familia no se define
solo por vínculos sanguíneos o de parentesco, sino también por adecuados
vínculos afectivos, de respeto, comunicación asertiva y relaciones equitativas.
Un fuerte vínculo familiar mediaba entre Jesús, sus discípulos y discípulas,
vínculo que trascendió los esquemas de la época al depositar Jesús igual (y en
ocasiones mayor) grado de confianza sobre aquellos que sobre su propia familia
de sangre. Un ejemplo de esto lo encontramos en la palabra de Jesús en la cruz
dirigida a su madre y a su discípulo amado (Juan 19:26-27), que hizo posible que
“a partir de ese momento, el discípulo llevó a María a su propia casa”,
reconociendo de este modo la experiencia de una familia extendida. También
nosotros hacemos lo mismo cuando reconocemos como familia a personas a las que
nos unen lazos tan fuertes como los sanguíneos y que las hacen mucho más
cercanas y confiables. ¿Quién no ha encontrado en un amigo, al hermano que
siempre deseó tener? ¿O quién no atesora a un padre o a una madre, no de
sangre, pero que está ahí para apoyarnos o defendernos? Ellos son también
nuestra familia y sin ellos dejaríamos de ser quienes somos ahora.
Oración: Oh Dios, te doy gracias
por las personas que, sin estar unidas a mí por lazos de sangre, han entrado a
mi vida y son parte de mi familia. Bendice a esas personas y permite que
también yo pueda ser para ellas ese familiar cercano, dispuesto a apoyarles
incondicionalmente.
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