A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark
Jesus came with his disciples into the house. Again the crowd gathered, making it impossible for them even to eat. When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
Jesus’ ministry as Mark describes it in today’s Gospel begins to draw such crowds that it became impossible for Jesus and his disciples to eat. Jesus’ family, hearing of this, must have questioned Jesus’ sanity, which appeared to limit his ability to take care of his basic needs and of the disciples; namely, the need for food. Mark goes on to say in his Gospel that the scribes believed Jesus was possessed by Beelzebul. When Jesus’ mother and brothers arrive, waiting outside for him, he says to those around him: “Who are my mother and my brothers? . . . For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” For Jesus, in a way that his family would come to understand through his life, doing the will of God was food for Jesus. As Jesus says in the Gospel according to John: “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst.”
God, help me understand that Christ your Son is the first to enter into eternal life through his resurrection. He sits at your right hand through his sacrifice as high priest on Calvary. Saint Paul says of this in the first reading: “But when Christ came as high priest of the good things that have come to be, passing through the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made by hands, that is, not belonging to this creation, he entered once for all into the sanctuary.” From within the place where Jesus has entered, the heavenly tabernacle, there is no need for food. In the Gospel according to John, Jesus himself says: “For my flesh is true food, and my blood is true drink.” Lord, this is a lot to take in. Help me understand what it means to accept your invitation and do your will.
Thank you, God, for the extravagant love of your Son. Your blessings are double: in this life, I have the true food and true drink of the Eucharist; in the next, the hope of the resurrection in unending praise at the heavenly banquet. Be with me today, Lord!
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.