Today’s Scripture Readings

In today’s brief Gospel passage, Jesus returns home after a busy time of ministry and the appointment of the Twelve. His family seek to protect him from the pressing crowds and the claims that ‘he has gone out of his mind’ while the scribes argue that his authority for casting our demons comes from Beelzebul. Not a joyous homecoming.
St Paul reminds us that following Jesus came seem like madness for he encourages us to willingly be ‘fools for the sake of Christ.’ even though we will suffer hardship, persecution, be reviled, slandered, hungry, thirsty, beaten and homeless such that ‘we have become like the rubbish of this world, the dregs of all things.’ (cf 1 Corinthians 4:10-13) Why is it that the teachings of Jesus that promote kindness, mercy, compassion, forgiveness, justice and peace stir up such antagonism and hatred? Because it upsets the world power order by raising up the lowly.
While many Christians suffer active persecution, (a recent report estimated one in seven) many of us experience more subtle forms of exclusion and denigration. Even in jest, family members can label a believer as ‘the religious fanatic’ while the blank look of others when we talk about Jesus suggests that we ‘have gone out of our mind.’
Today, let us be brave and embrace the madness of the Gospel, placing our hope in Christ, whose love, healing and mercy transforms our lives.