June 10, 2018 - The World vs. The Way

June 10, 2018 - The World vs. The Way Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time  Father Barry O’Toole, LC   Mark 3:20-35 Jesus came home with his disciples. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, "He is out of his mind." The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said, "He is possessed by Beelzebul," and "By the prince of demons he drives out demons." Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, "How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man's house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder the house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness but is guilty of an everlasting sin." For they had said, "He has an unclean spirit." His mother and his brothers arrived. Standing outside they sent word to him 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." Introductory Prayer: Lord Jesus, I believe in you. I believe you have called me to the faith and to share that faith. I trust that you will fill me with your spirit of courage and truth so that I might faithfully assimilate and transmit the faith. I love you. I want to love you more with my prayer and with my life, and so grow in the unity of the love you share with your Father and the Holy Spirit. Petition: Jesus, may I always have the strength to follow in your footsteps, wherever you lead me. 1. With the Mind or With the Heart: Sometimes there are “reasons of the heart” that the mind doesn’t understand. Why would a parent spend the night hovering over an ill child when the parent knows that he has to be at work by 9 a.m.? Logically, we need to sleep in order to be strong and alert enough to handle the challenges at our jobs. But love compels us to attend to the needs of children. And so it is with the Gospel of love. People think we are “out of our minds” as we strive to follow Christ more closely. 2. The Way, the Truth and the Life: “I am the way, the truth and the life” (John 14:6) First, Jesus shows us the road (I am the way), then he tells us where that road leads us (to truth and life). Our minds seek and are not satisfied until they discover the truth. Our hearts yearn for life, joy, happiness and love. Our entire lives are a constant search until we finally rest in Him. 3. Members of His Family: But Jesus offers us more! "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." What a great privilege to be part of God’s family! How many people dream of being a friend of the rich and famous because of the security and possibilities it would afford them. God, the Almighty, who is all powerful, makes us his children. What security and what possibilities he assures us! God will not deny anything that his children truly need. Conversation with Christ: Jesus, I will follow you wherever you lead me. Guide me down the path of a generous love that leads to life. Help me to be generous in the small, daily tasks as well as the big ones. Mother Most Pure, make my heart only for Jesus. Resolution: Today, I will irradiate the joy and security of being a child of God by doing at least one kind deed for someone in need.