GOSPEL
The scribes who had come down from Jerusalem were saying, ‘Beelzebul is in him’ and, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts devils out.’ So he called them to him and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot last. And if a household is divided against itself, that household can never stand. Now if Satan has rebelled against himself and is divided, he cannot stand either – it is the end of him. But no one can make his way into a strong man’s house and burgle his property unless he has tied up the strong man first. Only then can he burgle his house.
‘I tell you solemnly, all men’s sins will be forgiven, and all their blasphemies; but let anyone blaspheme against the Holy Spirit and he will never have forgiveness: he is guilty of an eternal sin.’ This was because they were saying, ‘An unclean spirit is in him.’
His mother and brothers now arrived and, standing outside, sent in a message asking for him. A crowd was sitting round him at the time the message was passed to him, ‘Your mother and brothers and sisters are outside asking for you.’ He replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ And looking round at those sitting in a circle about him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. Anyone who does the will of God, that person is my brother and sister and mother.’
When people think it’s already excessive how much one gives to others or how deeply one loves God, they often think one is out of their mind. Such is the intensity of Jesus’ love for people that it even prevents Him from eating.
Applied to Married Life:
Father: Daughter, this isn’t normal. You’re almost skipping meals just to see your husband for a bit and have coffee with him. One day, it’s going to take a toll on you. You’ll see him again tonight anyway. Why such a rush? Stay a bit longer, eat calmly, rest, and then go straight to pick up your children from school.
Mary: Dad, I want to see him, alright? We can spend a little time together. He tells me that being with me makes him feel great, it relaxes him and clears his mind, and on the days I can’t go, he misses me a lot and really notices the difference.
Father: Daughter, no one would believe you’ve been married for 24 years. Your husband is very lucky!
Mary: No, Dad, I don’t believe in luck. I am truly blessed with the husband God has given me!
Mother,
I know you prefer that I love the Lord above all, because by loving Him, I make you happy too. That’s the beauty of your holiness. Teach us, Mother, to discern where madness lies and where true wisdom is, so that we may be truly faithful to the total surrender Christ asks of us. We ask this through Him. Amen.