“He is out of his mind.” – Mark 3:21

       Chinese real estate and hotel tycoon Yu Panglin grew up in poverty and endured so much hardship before he became a millionaire. Fearing that his wealth might corrupt his two sons, he donated most of his remaining millions to charity. He knew, as he experienced, that they didn’t need that much wealth to live happy lives.

       Russian businessman Yevgeny Pushenko felt empty even as his garment business was booming. One night, he shocked his friends by handing them the keys to his factory. They learned why the next day. He wanted to be a monk and was set to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

       These two men’s lives may not equal those of the saints that we know. But in their own ways, they followed the tiny whispers in their hearts that told them that no amount of worldly wealth can satisfy their longing to be happy and fulfilled in life. They didn’t mind that people told them, “He is out of his mind!”

          I, too, made a crazy decision. I jumped from the bed to the floor, so to speak, but leaving everything behind to work for the Lord’s ministry remains the best decision I ever made in my life. Tess V. Atienza (theresa.a@shepherdsvoice.com.ph)

Reflection:Have you made a crazy decision in your life that prompted people to say you are out of your mind?

Dearest Lord, grant me courage to follow Your stirrings in my heart.

St. Agnes, martyr, pray for us.

All sacrifices must now take on the form of Jesus’ sacrifice. Sacrificing bulls and goats is no longer meaningful as Christ has personalized the concept of sacrifice. Instead of offering animals, let us give our life to Christ. Commitment to Christ is a radical decision and we have to be firm about it.

2 A tabernacle was constructed, the outer one, in which were the lampstand, the table, and the bread of offering; this is called the Holy Place. 3 Behind the second veil was the tabernacle called the Holy of Holies. 11 But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, 12 he entered once for all into the sanctuary, not with the blood of goats and calves but with his own Blood, thus obtaining eternal redemption. 13 For if the blood of goats and bulls and the sprinkling of a heifer’s ashes can sanctify those who are defiled so that their flesh is cleansed, 14 how much more will the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from dead works to worship the living God.

R: God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.

1 [2] All you peoples, clap your hands, shout to God with cries of gladness, 2 [3] for the Lord, the Most High, the awesome, is the great king over all the earth. (R) 5 [6] God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy; the Lord, amid trumpet blasts. 6 [7] Sing praise to God, sing praise; sing praise to our king, sing praise. (R) 7 [8] For king of all the earth is God: sing hymns of praise. 8 [9] God reigns over the nations, God sits upon his holy throne. (R)

The relatives of Jesus thought He was out of His mind. They were clueless on how to handle His popularity. How would you handle the celebrity status of  your relatives? Let us put ourselves in their shoes. Let us empathize and show compassion to people especially when we find it difficult to understand them.

Open our hearts, O Lord, to listen to the words of your Son.

20 Jesus came home with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. 21 When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

think: What would you have done if you were a member of Jesus’ family?

Read the Bible in one year  Luke 1-3

T O D A Y’S BLESSING LIST

thank You, Lord, for: ______________________________________________________

The Gospel of Mark is considered by scholars as the bluntest of the Gospels. You do not find in Mark the theological sophistication of John. Mark does not have the poetry and literary style of Luke or Matthew. All you find in Mark is the raw and unadorned narration of the Jesus event. Nowhere in the Gospel of Mark is this most displayed than in today’s Gospel. Jesus’ relatives, finding Him too much to bear, remarked, “He is out of His mind.” Mark didn’t even attempt an explanation or a rationalization for the surprising reaction. But I guess Mark intended it to be so as it focuses our attention more on the person of Jesus.

       Of all people, one would expect one’s own relatives to be his last bastion of support. It was not the case with Jesus. Can you imagine having your own kinsmen turn against you? Your own relatives calling you “mad”? It would have required a strong inner fortitude on the part of Jesus to withstand external turmoil. I believe this is just what Mark wanted us to appreciate about Jesus.

       Jesus was really all about the Father’s will. He may run into opposition, rejection and isolation, even from His own relatives, but His food really was “to do the will of the Father.” The will of the Father will isolate Him but the Father’s companionship keeps Him eternal company. Jesus spoke of this once “But I am not alone for the Father is with me” (John 16:32).

       Are you excessively obsessed with gaining affirmation at the expense of values? There is a saying that goes: “He who has no inner life will be a slave to his surroundings.” Jesus was truly free. He was no slave to His surroundings. Fr. Joel Jason

---------- REFLECTION QUESTION -----------

Do you “collect” Facebook friends just for the sake of it? Are you overly conscious of your“approval rating”?

When I feel isolated, insecure and even jeered for the sake of the Gospel, remind my heart, O God: “I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” Amen.