Mark 3:20-35 NRSVue

²⁰Then he went home, and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. ²¹When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” ²²And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” ²³And he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? ²⁴If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. ²⁵And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. ²⁶And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. ²⁷But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

²⁸“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter, ²⁹but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness but is guilty of an eternal sin”—³⁰for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

³¹Then his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. ³²A crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers are outside asking for you.” ³³And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” ³⁴And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! ³⁵Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

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Reflection on Mark 3:20-35

Inspiration from 2024-06-09 Daily Prayer

There are no unforgiveable sins, but we can refuse to be open to or to ask for forgiveness. Lord, touch our stubborn hearts with your gentle spirit so that we can accept your gifts of healing, forgiveness and new life.

In following Jesus, even blood ties come second to our primary call. This doesn’t mean that we reject our loved ones, but that we keep Jesus at the centre of our lives. In this way, we will actually have a greater capacity to love, to live in unity, to reach out to all people, and to see each person, blood relative or not, as a brother or sister in Christ, as a child of God, worthy of love and attention.

Further reflection

When family members get in touch then you need to listen more seriously to what people are saying.

But maybe your family don’t really understand either!

Saint Thomas More’s wife and daughter appealed to him to bend to the King’s will: Sir Thomas would have none of it. He had his conscience to answer to.

Jesus is founding a new community based not on blood ties or the sensibleness of village life.

Has your faith commitment led you to new communities where your family will not go?