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.”

Some thoughts on this scripture

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

Reflection
But maybe your family don’t really understand either!

Reflection
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.

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

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