When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said,“He is out of his mind.”
REFLECTION
“He is out of his mind.
For Christmas I gave the book A Plan of Life by Father Roger Landry to my children and husband. My son who lives in London just received it and my husband chuckled saying, "We all got one".
Jesus was 30 when He started His ministry. His relatives, whom we know nothing about, do not see anything special in Him. It does not appear they have a close personal fellowship. He is not acting or speaking the way they thought He should and therefore their concern. Were they upset because of the crowds that He was drawing or the confrontation with the Pharisees?
They did not understand Him. Without intimacy with Jesus, we cannot know him.
Hearing of all the commotion following Jesus, the rumors of the Pharisees angry with His actions or the mobs following Him, His relatives, either living in Capernaum or travelling from Nazareth, take action. They are convinced He is out of His mind.
Sometimes we are hesitant to speak up because we do not want to be perceived as being out of our mind because we are too pious, too zealous or too outspoken. Well known saints were mocked for their piety or being too zealous: , St Bernadette, St Catherine of Siena, St Joan of Arc, St Zita, St Teresa of Avila, St Padre Pio to name a few. They abandoned self love for the sake of God. Striving to glorify God by fulfilling His commandments their self will became His will.
Learn by hearing and seeing the actions of Jesus. Critically observe His words, His compassion and mercy and His miracles. Read the stories of the saints as well. Be prepared to be criticized, ridiculed or mocked. Do what is right and God will take care of the rest.
Opmerkingen