Gospel

Mark 3:20-21

Jesus came with his disciples into the house.

Again the crowd gathered,

making it impossible for them even to eat.

When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,

for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Reflection

How did Jesus deal with his critics? I think it might have been easier for him to deal with the critics of the temple because they were seen in his mind as those who were very, very dangerous and needed to be silenced.

But this opens up another way of understanding the tension that he lived in, and that is to lose his family's support, to be called crazy, out of your mind. It just reminds us that when we are taught to be the instrument of God's teaching, we need to have a commitment that isn't weakened by criticism. We expect to be criticized when we speak the truth by those who live in lies.

Closing Prayer

Father, give us the confidence in the commitment that you have given to us to manifest your teaching your truth to those around us. Help us to do it, not so much by telling them where they're wrong, but by awakening them to something they see within us. Help us to be the message, not just talk about it. And we ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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