Cynthia A. Jarvis

“The primary emphasis of the text, however, is on doing the will of God. In the context of Mark’s Gospel, this means joining in the actions that herald God’s reign (1:14–15). Whenever the church is participating in God’s mission—housing the homeless, feeding the hungry, setting free the oppressed, working for peace—it is “being family.”
― Cynthia A. Jarvis, Feasting on the Gospels--Mark: A Feasting on the Word Commentary

“Thus, to be “in Christ” is to belong to a new family, made brother or sister to a collection of individuals who have decided to follow the Jesus way as best they can. The people who seek to “do the will of God” for Jesus’ sake are stuck with each other, becoming brothers and sisters, friends and mentors by God’s grace. Just as none of us chooses our biological brothers and sisters, so we must beware of obsessive selectivity in relating to our sisters and brothers in Christ.”
― Cynthia A. Jarvis, Feasting on the Gospels--Mark: A Feasting on the Word Commentary