UNITY IS THE NEED OF THE HOUR: A DIVIDED KINGDOM CANNOT STAND
First Reading: Genesis : 9-15
Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4: 13 to 5: 1
Gospel Reading: Mark 3: 20-25
*First reading is from the book of Genesis. The fall of the first parents, Adam and Eve, is narrated. The after-effects of the fall grip the whole humankind. Adam and Eve fall to the temptations of Satan. The consequences are extremely tragic and unimaginable. When questioned by the Lord God about their disobedience, the Man blames the Woman and the Woman in turn blames the serpent. A division among themselves takes place. And the blame game, with its after-effects, goes on endlessly in this world after the first sin.
*Second reading is from the second letter of St. Paul to Corinthians. The numerous trials and sufferings that St. Paul had to undergo during his missionary activity are mentioned. In the midst of all his sufferings, Paul looks forward to a future world in which God will provide us with a permanent dwelling place to reside instead of the present world which is temporary and perilous. The idea of a future, eternal life and the resurrection of the dead is expressed by Paul in this passage.
A divided kingdom Today's Gospel reading is from St. Mark. During His public ministry Jesus goes around preaching, teaching and healing many who were sick and suffering due to various ailments. In the midst of these activities, there is opposition and discomfort among His family members. They think Jesus is out of His mind and they try in vain to take Him home by force. Some serious accusations are leveled against Jesus by some of the Scribes. They accuse Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons. Jesus refutes them and tells them: "If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand." He further clarifies by saying about the unforgivable sin. He tells them: "Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven." Jesus told this in the context of the Scribes' stubborn refusal to accept that Jesus worked the miracles by the power of God and consequently, He is sent by God. In the final part of today's Gospel, Jesus makes His clear. His family ties and blood-relationships are secondary to the mission entrusted to Him by the heavenly Father. So Jesus tells His listeners and us: "Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Hence, when we too listen to the word of God and do the works of God, we too become blood relatives of the Lord. In the Gospel Jesus says: "No kingdom that is divided within itself can stand." I myself am a divided kingdom. I am divided within myself. As St. Paul puts it: "The good which I want to do, I don't do; the evil which I want to avoid, I feel myself doing."
"A divided kingdom cannot defend itself from its adversaries. A divided person cannot face life in a dignified way." - Paulo Coelho
(Kindly note: Sunday Reflections with Fr. Joy Joseph is available on YouTube. Please view, like, share and subscribe to the video version on YouTube. Thanks.)
https://youtu.be/-ZGb-q5tr9Q?si=ZgK4aEeAm5PXDYn-
No comments:
Post a Comment