GOSPEL, Mark (3: 20-35)
Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark
Jesus and Beelzebul
20 and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21 When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” 22 And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” 23 And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26 And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27 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.
28 “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— 30 for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
The True Kindred of Jesus
31 Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” 33 And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” 34 And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
The Gospel of the Lord
REFLECTION
“He is beside himself” (vs. 21), “he is possessed of Beelzebub” (vs. 22): this was what was said of Jesus. Moreover, He seeks to explain, “a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand.” (Vs. 24-25) He casts out Satan because he is stronger than he is (vs. 27)
The Evangelist simply wants to try to answer the question of ‘who’ Jesus is. Who is this person who speaks with authority and acts with power? His words fascinate, his miracles pose questions. …
The scribes and Pharisees seek to discredit Him, presenting Him, as one possessing a diabolical power (vs.22-30). Concerned relatives try to take him home (vs. 21).
The Word of the prophet of Galilee – in the form of a dense and controversial dialogue (vs.23-27) – clarifies the meaning of everything that is happening. He is not “out of himself” and “he is not possessed by Beelzebub” (vs.21-22), but it is by virtue of the power of God that Jesus binds “the strong man” (3:27), the prince of evil, to set free the man whom was held captive.
Jesus is the object of all kinds of slander. The scribes accuse us of making a pact with Beelzebub the prince of demons. Jesus, however, continues on His mission to establish the Kingdom of God among men.
Following his example, many of our brethren, putting God’s will above all else, fight today against racism, torture, injustice and deprivation of freedom, and are accused of being anarchists.
Faithful to the call, facing all setbacks, the true Disciple says,
“5 I wait for the Lord, my soul waits,
and in his word I hope;
6 my soul waits for the Lord
more than those who watch for the morning,” (Psalm 130).
PRAYER
Holy Father, who sent your Son to free us from the slavery of evil, support us with the weapons of faith, to fight with heroism for the kingdom of Peace and Justice. Amen.