We can choose to be Christ’s brothers and sisters, His true family
Reflections on the readings for the Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (June 10, 2018): GN 3:9-15; PS 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8; 2 COR 4:13–5:1; MK 3:20-35
MISSIO offers “Preaching Mission,” as a homily help, providing connections to mission from the readings of Sundays, Feast Days and Holy Days.
Throughout His ministry, Jesus spoke to crowds of people anxious to hear what He had to say – people who found hope in His words of mercy.
But He also faced great fear and animosity from others. In today’s Gospel, a number of religious leaders proclaimed that He was working with the devil. Christ answered with a parable showing how utterly illogical it would be to drive demons out of possessed people if He Himself were in league with Satan. He famously said, “if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand” (Mark 3:25).
Yet it must have hurt our Lord far more difficult to hear some of His own relatives call Him insane. It’s hard enough to endure resentment and hostility from strangers who dislike and disagree with us. But to have those who should know us best and care about us is even worse. Jesus used the opportunity to teach His listeners that following Him and seeking the will of the Father matters more that any other relationship. “‘Who are My mother and My brothers?’ And looking around…He said, ‘Here are My mother and My brothers. For whoever does the will of God is My brother and sister and mother.’” (Mark 3:33-35) This may seem incomprehensible when we consider the Blessed Virgin Mary. It is vital to see that Christ’s beloved mother was – above all things – God’s faithful servant. Her soul belonged to God before her body bore His Son. So we must grasp that we, too, are called to be His disciples in all we are and all we do.
