2nd Week in Ordinary Time (Year A) : Saturday 20th January 2024

Today’s relatively short, two verse Gospel sparks the imagination quite vividly – the scene of Jesus returning home with His disciples, people gathering around Jesus, and Jesus’ relatives coming to seize Him as they believe Jesus had lost His mind.

Sometimes, the people closest to us are the people that least understand us, or the underlying good intentions we might have. Regardless of how we are perceived or understood, today’s Gospel is an invitation for us to believe that even when we do the Will of the Father, there will be challenges. When we experience those challenges, we can identify with Jesus Who was understood to have lost his mind.

What challenges am I facing today as a result of living out my Christian life? Like Jesus, don’t be trapped by the challenges, instead surrender them to Jesus. Trusting in God Who provides everything that we need, carry on living out God’s mission.

In the words of St Paul, “Rather, as servants of God, we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distress; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love…”(2Cor6:4-7) Take heart knowing that this is the Christian life.

Lord, help me to accomplish my duties today albeit in the face of challenges.