It’s the 10th Sunday in Ordinary Time. Last week, it was Corpus Christi, the solemnity of the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ, which unfortunately, many Catholics still cannot embrace. Since the death and resurrection of our Lord 2,000 years ago, there has been a series of what is known as Eucharistic Miracles that has happened in so many places, which should be more than enough proof for Catholics to believe Jesus truly exists in the Holy Eucharist. So today allow me to write about today’s gospel reading which comes from Mark 3: 20-35.
* * *
“20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”
“23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”
“30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”
“31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”
* * *
What is happening here is that our Lord Jesus Christ returns to his family home and his own family questions his teachings, which is why he preaches something that no one has ever heard when he said, “Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” The Lord tells this to his own family to warn them of the sin that they could commit when they blaspheme against the Holy Spirit.
To understand today’s scripture reading, you must first read the verses prior to Mark 3: 20-35 when Jesus appointed the 12 apostles. Because he cured the man with a withered hand on a Sabbath Day, the Jews hated him for violating their strict laws. Yet the Lord came up with a statement asking them: “Is it lawful to do good on the Sabbath rather than do evil, to save life rather than to destroy it?” The Jews remained silent and did not reply to his query. So the Lord Jesus cured the man with a withered hand, which infuriated the Jews accusing him of having an impure spirit.
Then came his mother and brothers saying: “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” Then Jesus said: “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”? Our Lord clearly pointed out to the Jews that “Whoever does God’s will is my brother, sister and mother.” What a beautiful thing to say to testify to those who obey the teachings of the Lord who teaches us that if we obey the will of God, we are all children of God!
* * *
For email responses to this article, write to vsbobita@gmail.com. His columns can be accessed through www.philstar.com.