Scripture:
Genesis 3:9-15
2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
Mark 3:20-35
Reflection:
Again, and Always, the Good News of Jesus
A priest working in Africa taught the Bible in secondary school. The school included Christian and Muslim students, so the Bible was taught as a work of literature. The priest spoke of a student in the class as brilliant, always 100 and perfectly done assignments. He was passing the village mosque on his way home from school and saw the imam who was a good friend. As they talked, he remembered a paper written by the girl that he had with him. At the bottom corner were a few words written small in her own language that he did not understand. He asked the imam what they said. The imam laughed, ‘I hope you won’t be offended, she wrote, Allah, please forgive my blasphemy.’
She was often told that the Bible was the sacred book of Christians and not for her to read, doing so was wrong. But she was a student and had no choice. She was between a rock and a hard place. She did not condemn her teacher or see others doing wrong to her. She does her best, trusting in God’s mercy. What humility and sensitivity!
The Scribes who came from Jerusalem to Nazareth to Jesus’ home, accuse him of working for Beelzebul. But Jesus is doing the Father’s will. They are condemning the good work that Jesus does in the Father’s name.
We could change this to a ‘happy’ gospel. After the Scribes make their announcement the following sentence says that Jesus calls ‘them’ to sit down. What if in this combative situation the Scribes join the crowd and a synodal type meeting follows: each sharing, all listening, no interruptions or judgments, and a humble prayer asking the Spirit to open hearts to hear what God is saying in the words of one another. Would some hear that what Jesus does is not the work of Satan? Satan counts us as his possessions and deprives us of God’s glory. Jesus enters the strong man’s house and stealing his treasure, reclaims us for himself. In so doing he will give the Father glory.
Mary does suffer. In Luke the townspeople reject Jesus, even threatening his life. How did Mary endure such neighbors? But Mary hears the best of complements today. Jesus says, ‘do the will of God and you can be may sister, brother and mother’. Did Jesus look at his mother when he said that. ‘Friends, you have a neighbor, my mother, who always does the will of my Father’.
We can change the narrative of the gospel today hearing hope for the Scribes, a singular compliment for Mary. Like the Moslem girl let us trust in God’s mercy, do our best amidst fragility, ours and others, and hear the truth that can be found in the hearts of others. Oh, to be brothers and sisters of Jesus together.
Fr. William Murphy, CP is a member of Immaculate Conception Community in Jamaica, New York.