Jesus' relatives "came to take charge of Him, saying, 'He is out of His mind' " (Mk 3:21). Because His relatives thought He was crazy, you might think Jesus would "mind His manners." Jesus, however, was not one to succumb to pressure in even the slightest way. Jesus then said something He knew would make Him look crazy. When told that His mother, brothers, and sisters were outside, Jesus asked the "crazy" question: "Who are My mother and My brothers?" (Mk 3:33)
Imagine someone telling you your wife was on the phone. What if you said: "Who is my wife?" Wouldn't it make people doubt your sanity, especially if you were already being described as insane? Obviously, Jesus didn't care how He sounded or what people thought. Jesus' concern was not to protect Himself or please people; His total concern was to do the will of His Father (see Mk 3:35). To do the Father's will was Jesus' food (Jn 4:34). He delighted to do the Father's will (see Ps 40:9). When God's will became bitterly painful, Jesus did it anyway. He said and lived: "Not My will, but Thy (the Father's) will be done" (Mt 26:39, our transl.). Jesus did the Father's will, even to death on the cross (see Phil 2:8).
| PRAYER: | Father, I decide to do Your will, especially in the situations where I am tempted to be self-willed. |
| PROMISE: | "By this 'will,' we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all." –Heb 10:10 |
| PRAISE: | Sarah has devoted her life to teaching men and women the beauty of chastity and holiness, writing articles and blogs, and directing educational programs. |
Reprinted with permission from Presentation Ministries, a lay association of the Catholic Church that focuses on evangelization and discipleship through Bible teaching, daily Mass, the charisms of the Holy Spirit, and Small Christian Community. Their ministries include:
· One Bread, One Body
· Daily Bread Radio Program
· Annual Bible Institute
· Discipleship Retreats
· Guadalupe Bible College