Relationship not religion

Gospel MK 3:31-35

The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house.
Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him.
A crowd seated around him told him,
“Your mother and your brothers and your sisters
are outside asking for you.”
But he said to them in reply,
“Who are my mother and my brothers?”
And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,
“Here are my mother and my brothers.
For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.”

Did Jesus have brothers and sisters?  The bible is pretty clear on Jesus having half-brothers and less clear on Jesus having half-sisters.  These would be the children that Joseph and Mary had after Jesus was born.  How cool would it have been to have Jesus as a half-brother?  Hard to say.  He most certainly was not the typical older brother and even distances himself from his own family - "whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."  Jesus very clearly wants us to have a close, intimate relationship with me - as close to me  as our own flesh and blood.  The Good News of the gospel is not just about living up to high moral and standards and living what would be considered a good life.  It's about a relationship with the Divine.  And just like other relationships, my relationship with God needs to be nurtured and cultivated through prayer, participating in the sacraments, reading the word, attending mass, receiving communion.  I am at my best when, in word and deed, I am connected to the Living God.  This close, intimate relationship is also described when Jesus says "I am the vine and you are the branches."