Tuesday, 19 January 2016

Saturday: 2nd Week in Ordinary Time-C
I Reading: 2 Samuel 1:1-4, 11-12.17.19.23-27: How did the heroes fall in the thick of the battle.
Gospel: Mark 3:20-21: His relative said he was out of his mind.
Jesus’ Impact upon Friends: Calling Jesus Mad and Insane
The Authorized Version (KJV) is probably correct in using “friends” in verse 21 of “kinsmen” or family. Jesus’ impact upon his family is discussed in Mark 3:31.
1.     The crowd: they were so zealous that Jesus was unable to eat (v.20)
2.     The friends or family: they acted the very opposite (v.21)
a.     Heard of his behaviour
b.    Thought him insane
c.      Sought custody
Thought: Zeal and enthusiasm for Christ are so desperately lacking. People should be flocking to him by the multitudes, but they are not. Why?
·        Do they love the world and the things of the world too much (1Jn 2:15-16)?
·        Do they love the body and its feelings too much?
·        Do they love pride, fame, power, money, wealth too much?
·        Do they just not know? Have they not heard? (Rom 10:14-15)
·        Is the witness and life of believers too weak? (Eph 4:17-24)
Thought: Jesus Christ ministered despite enormous inconvenience and disruption. He denied himself his own need in order to help others. The call of the hour is: “Believe Jesus. Trust Him. He was not insane. He is truly the Son of the living God.”
Friends or family can be wrong, no matter how much they esteem and love us. What they think and how they treat us can often be wrong: the friends or family of Jesus were wrong. In this case we must go against friends or family some time for the right cause or justice. We must vigorously surrender to God and to His Will regardless of what our friends or family may think. Being strong and standing firm in God’s Call and Will are desperately needed always.
What a lesson for us today!

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