Was Jesus Being Rude?

While Jesus was speaking to the crowds,  his mother and his brothers appeared outside, wishing to speak with him.  Someone told him, "Your mother and your brothers are standing outside, asking to speak with you." But he said in reply to the one who told him, "Who is my mother? Who are my brothers?" And stretching out his hand toward his disciples, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother."

I have a hard time with the way Jesus is portrayed by Matthew in this reading.  Where I grew up, the easiest way to pick a fight with another boy was to mention something negative about his mother.  Do this and the fight was on and it would continue until you either won the tussle or ended up apologizing for what you said.  Also, there is no relationship on earth that can be more close than a mother to a son.  Now I know there are some cases this is not true, but more often than not you can take a two hundred pound middle-aged man and using nothing more than the voice of his mother, turn him back into a compliant twelve-year-old adolescent looking to please Mom.   For most of us, that is how important this relationship is. 

So, was Jesus being rude to His mother in this episode of the Gospel?  His mother probably wanted to speak to Him about getting some rest and perhaps a bite to eat.  Jesus knew the drill and yet he seemingly dismisses her and says that those who are doing the will of His heavenly Father makes up His family. 

I do not think Jesus was being rude here, He was just telling us that our relationship with Him and His Father is much more important than any relationship that we have here on earth and that we should strive mightily to build that relationship and make it strong. 

********

Someone told me that their mother was so sick and in so much pain that she certainly did her Purgatory on earth.  Is this something that can be done?  Yes, it is possible to make satisfaction for your sins on earth through sacrifice, fasting, prayer, and yes, even the pain you suffer can be dedicated for this purpose.  The better thing to do with your suffering is to offer your earthly sufferings up for the good of the Poor Souls in Purgatory.  Remember, those of us in Purgatory cannot lessen our time there on our own.  We need the help of others.  Think often of our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, uncles, aunts, friends, and strangers in Purgatory and pray for them and offer sacrifices for them.  They will be forever grateful for your work on their behalf.