Tuesday, June 05, 2018

Reflection for Sunday June 10, Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time; Mark 3:20-35

Gospel: 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."
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Reflection:    
Do you want to be a relative of Jesus? If your answer is yes, then Jesus has a requirement for you. And this is His requirement: You have to do the will of God. (Mark 3:35) If you may ask: What is the will of God for me? You have to follow the Servanthood life of Jesus.

Life of Servanthood which is perhaps outdated already for many of the modern people of this technology driven world today. The modern people of today generally subscribe to a life of modernity  which is to have what this modern world offers us.

For example, to have the newest gadget available which actually boils down to self-centeredness and the me first mindset. Therefore the life of Servanthood of Jesus is eased out for a self-centeredness life.

At the start of today’s gospel we read about Jesus living His Servanthood lifestyle. He is just through His healing ministry that’s why many were still following Him to have His healing. And by not focusing anymore on Himself Jesus was labeled as someone who is out of His mind by His relatives who was trying to control Him. 

However Jesus’ relatives did not understand His Servanthood lifestyle. Perhaps they were also eaten up already by the self-centered lifestyle or the me first mindset: My comfort first, my needs and wants first.

If we really want to follow Jesus we have to embrace His Servanthood mindset, lifestyle and way of life. We have to prioritize first the welfare of our fellowmen before our own. And if we do so we are now eligible to be called a true relative of Jesus.

Do you want to become a true relative of Jesus? – Marino J. Dasmarinas      

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