Daily Worship

Living in Our Story

Albert Bogle April 15, 2016 0 0

Mark 3: 20-21

Jesus Accused by His Family and by Teachers of the Law

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.”

23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables:“How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.”

30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.”

31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.”

33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked.

34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

Today let us think of people who have lost all links with their family, because of personal problems.  Alcohol, drug abuse, criminality, all contribute to family break down. The reading today cause us to reflect on how Jesus must have felt when his mother and brothers came in search of him accusing him of being mentally ill. Take a moment to consider the plight of people who are living through great disappointments.

Lord,
Today I want to remember those who have become strangers
Brothers and sisters fathers and mothers
Excluded from their family circle
Shunned and disowned
Counted as mad
Treated as insane
People who have been unjustly represented
Misquoted
Misunderstood
Left on their own
All because they are different
Because they have made wrong choices
Because they have told the truth
Because they have lived a lie
Whistle blowers in families

Today I want to pray for the hurting and the hurt
Draw close to the disappointed and give them hope
Turn the stranger into friend
Give the shunned and disowned a way back
Forgive us all when we have all ourselves to be estranged

Come Lord Jesus
Live in our stories
And save us from hypocrisy