Not that many years ago I remember hearing an interesting distinction. There was something being true and then there was "the true truth" as the expression went. While the expression seems redundant, in a sense Jesus uses the concept in today's Gospel when answering the difficult question: What makes us children of God?
From the Christian point of view all human beings are created in the image and likeness of God, and so are deserving of respect. Through baptism we are incorporated into the Body of Christ and become sons and daughters of God.
Today, however, Jesus in some sense raises the stakes. "For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother."
It is true that baptism makes us children of God but the true truth comes down to what we DO –The choices we may all day every day,the dozens of choices we will make today. In these choices we hold onto or reject the gift of adoption that we received.
The question of each of us today and every day is: Today will I be a brother/sister of Jesus?
