Is He Crazy?
Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again, the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this, they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” (Mk 3:20-21)
Today’s gospel from Mark is very short, only two verses. The first verse describes Jesus’ return home to Capernaum where he now lives. The crowds that gathered at the house were so largeand requiring their attention that Jesus and his disciples did not even have time to eat. You can image how word had gotten out about him. Great crowds inundated him everywhere he wentseeking healing and to hear him teach. To some, it might even seem like the situation had gotten out of control. The religious authorities saw it as a spectacle the way people were following Jesus around. So, in the second verse, we hear that his relatives, his extended family presumably from Nazareth, had heard about Jesus’ activities. They had concluded that things had gone too far. In their traditional society, where family honor is prized, Jesus was threatening to bring dishonor to them. “He is out of his mind.” (Mk 3:21). They felt that he needed to be restrained, protected from himself as well as the people. He had abandoned a secure trade as a carpenter for a wandering life; he had run into trouble with the authorities in what seemed like a deliberate way; he had gathered an odd group of disciples around him. He seemed indifferent to financial and social security and the opinion of others. Even those closest to him, who had watched him grow up, didn’t understand who Jesus is and what his true mission was.
When we choose to live by the Gospel, we too run the risk of being misunderstood, challengedand ridiculed. Sometimes those who are closest to us, our own family and friends, question our Christian lifestyle. When we choose to live by the Gospel, we live a counter-cultural lifestyle choosing to buck societies norms. Society tells us we can do whatever we want because it’s “my” choice and no one can tell me what to do. This leads us to a self-centered existence. But Jesus calls us to “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and all your strength and to love your neighbor as yourself”.
As Christians are our actions guided by prayer and honest reflection to cooperate with God’s grace to help build the Kingdom of God? When asked to love our neighbor, are we willing to put on the light of Christ and serve our brothers and sisters with unconditional love? Are we willing to live a life of service so that others no longer see us, but see Christ?
St. Clare of Assisi Catholic Church
Houston, TX