10th Sunday of Ordinary Time
Jesus calls us to understand that we all belong to the same family, united by our willingness to do God’s will, to embrace the truth, and to welcome God’s love and forgiveness.
- To the point: Jesus says that our mother, brothers and sisters are not merely those who belong to our families but rather those who “do the will of God.” Jesus’ mission is to explain that nothing is more important than love for God and neighbor. This is why the only unforgiveable sin is the sin against the Holy Spirit- shutting off the Source of Love and Truth and thereby rejecting God’s forgiveness.
- Connecting the Gospel (Mark 3:20-35) to the first reading: The serpent was able to tempt in the Garden of Eden based on a tarnished deception of truth. The imposter presented the rejection of God’s will, beauty and love as the most desirable good.
- Connecting the Gospel to experience: In today’s world, sins against the Spirit seem ever more prevalent. If we, like the Scribes, reject the truth because it is uncomfortable and embrace or spread “false news” and “alternate facts” because they are more comfortable, we are rejecting the Spirit of Truth. We would be wise to embrace the truth no matter how uncomfortable it is, knowing that God’s love and forgiveness is always with us to bring us together. God unites us when we believe the truth, no matter how painful it might be. When we begin like Adam and Eve to embrace the false truth, we have rejected God’s love.
Centering prayers
The Gospel
(Mark 3:20-35)
Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God
is my brother and sister and mother.
Jesus, is it what you came to do? Make us your family?
We are all your sisters and brothers as we do the will of your
Father. We know him because we know you.
Give us the grace to love him, and the desire
to do the will of our Father.
The First Reading
(Genesis 3:9-15)
The woman whom you put here with me — she gave me fruit from the tree, and so I ate it.
We ate from the garden, and we do it now. We still sin.
Thank you Jesus, for coming to be with us in this
no-longer-garden-of-paradise.
Because you are here, we are still in a holy place.
The Second Reading
(2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1)
For this momentary light affliction is producing for us
an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison.
Christ, please call us. Send us your love and your grace.
Help us to look with the eyes of our heart,
beyond what we can see to that which is unseen. You are enough for us.
Copyright © 2024, Anne M. Osdieck
Music for reflection