Family 2.0

A Reflection on the Gospel for Sunday, June 9th, 2024:
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

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​Mark
3.20-35​

Jesus went home and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.”

And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.”

And Jesus 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 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, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” — for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.”

And Jesus replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Pause. Pray. Reflect.

Our daughter, Jenna, attended St. Francis Xavier University and by all accounts had an enriching and wonderful experience. She loved her time there, so much so that once when picking her up from her dorm room to spend the weekend in Halifax she told her roommate that she would be “home” on Monday. Looking at her quizzically I commented that what she said didn’t make sense – it was Friday, and she’d be back to St. F.X. on Monday.  “Oh Mum,” she said. “We just call St. F.X ‘home’ and Halifax is ‘home home’!”

In a way her reply is analogous to how Jesus responds in the two short paragraphs at the end of the Gospel. These nuggets of truth are at first hard to understand. Is He being disrespectful to His mother and brothers who are outside calling to Him? Not at all, but He is using this encounter to teach a fundamental lesson by redefining the common understanding of the word “family.”  Looking around at the people who are seated close to Him and listening to His teachings, He proclaims, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”

Our familial house as it were is of great importance, but because of the human condition it means it often becomes “a house divided.” In trying to live out a life with Jesus at the centre, I’ve often been misunderstood and questioned by family members.

Our earthly family is vital indeed for love, ongoing support and understanding as we navigate through life. However, Jesus shows us that it is the Family of God that is infinitely more vital and of eternal importance. At day’s end most of us are blessed to return home to people whom we love and who love us. But I for one will strive to keep my eyes on the Son, staying focussed and working hard at doing God’s will so that at the end of my life I will hopefully, through the grace of God, be able to run toward His son Jesus shouting, “I’m ‘home home’!”


Patty Viscount​

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