Jesus, while still speaking to the people, is informed that His mother and brothers had arrived and wished to speak with Him (Mt 12:46-50).  He uses this opportunity to tell the crowd that all who do the will of God the Father are His family.  This reading gives us an opportunity to consider Jesus’ mother.  Far from dismissing or denigrating His mother, Jesus invites His hearers then and now to think about Mary.  Who she was and what she did will help us to appreciate what it takes to get close to Jesus so we can become an intimate family member of His.  The Blessed Virgin was perfectly humble, obedient, and joyful.  Witness her interaction with Gabriel at the Annunciation (“Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word” — Lk 1:38) and the Magnificat that burst forth from her heart as soon as she visited her cousin (“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; my spirit rejoices in God my savior.  For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness” — Lk 1:46-48).  Humility (acknowledgment of the truth that all good gifts are from God), obedience (Father knows best), and joy (“These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full” — Jn 15:11) are good places for us to start as well.  Like with Mary, They may well lead us to the Cross (cf. Jn 19:25), but they will also lead us to the Resurrection.