Word to the Wise
Tuesday, January 24, 2017 - Tuesday in the 3rd Week in Ordinary Time
[Heb 10:1-10 and Mark 3:31-35]The mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him. A crowd seated around him told him, "Your mother and your brothers and your sisters are outside asking for you." But he said to them in reply: "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking around at those seated in the circle he said,"Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." [Mark]
JANUARY 24 ST. FRANCIS DE SALES
Last Saturday we were told that Jesus' family had decided that he was "out of his mind," and set out to "seize him." In the meantime, the "scribes from Jerusalem" had decided that Jesus was possessed by the devil. The intent of the story in this third chapter of Mark is to show that the very people who should have known Jesus rejected him. It was the ordinary people with all their illnesses and troubles who recognized and accepted him. They may not have fully known him, because that would only be accomplished with his death and resurrection, but at least they were open to his message.
Today, Jesus' family (including his mother!) arrives at the house, which is full of people who have come from near and far, and try to get to him. Notice the description, "standing outside." Jesus turns the tense situation into a teachable moment. He rejects the notion that blood kinship with him conveys a special privilege. [His mother would subsequently take on a privileged role, especially in the Gospel of Luke.] It is only faith in him that determines the relationship with him. Perhaps in our own time this might be considered as saying, "You may be closely related to a saint, but that is not what will get you to heaven." Doing the will of God is the ticket.
Acceptance and rejection are key elements in the Gospel of Mark. Where do we stand? AMEN
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