Thank you marks. I certainly wish others on here were as kind as you are.
I believe that fulfilling a request from your mother over me is relevant. It has nothing to do with the happenstance of your birth. It has to do with Scripture: Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the Lord your God is giving you.
I would EXPECT you to fulfill your mothers request over mine!! But that's just me....
Respectfully, Mary
In reality, yes, Mom has a special place in our hearts, yes, we are to honor her in a context that's only shared with Dad. We are not millions of individuals, each eeking out our own existence. Rather, we are 'humanity' unfolding. I like the hymn, "We blossom and flourish like leaves on a tree, then whither and perish by nought changeth Thee!" We are in the tree of humanity, and that through our parents,
according to the flesh.
But this makes me think of the place:
2 Corinthians 5
15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
16 Wherefore henceforth know we no man after the flesh: yea, though we have known Christ after the flesh, yet now henceforth know we him no more.
When Christ rose, this changed all our relationships. I don't see how the earthly relationship according to the flesh would continue past the resurrection, and, IF I'm reading this verse right, even now our relationships become reordered.
We no longer know anyone after the flesh, and even having known Christ after the flesh, that is, in a humanly way, we don't know Him that way any longer. So as Jesus was gesturing to the group, these are My mother and My brothers and My sisters, isn't that reflected in this passage to the church? That Christ completely transcends human relationships?
That's how I see this. In the same way, marriage will not surpass death. I don't see the physical relationships - my brother for instance - will take a greater significance than the spiritual relationships we will have with all of God's people.
On another note, I seem to remember getting snippy with you once upon a time, and I'm sorry! Things like that are teaching me to be kinder!
Much love!