I kind of chuckled reading this very short passage from the Gospel of Mark 3 where Jesus and his disciples went into the house and people were gathering again so that they could not even eat. Then it says “when his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him, for they said, ‘He is out of his mind.”
I wonder how many of my relatives think I am out of my mind. I get the feeling that it is known in my family circles not to talk about “religion” when Mike is around. It’s okay for me to pray at family meals but that’s pretty much it. My family has no idea how much I pray for them, care for them and love them usually from a distance. I trust that God’s love, mercy and providence will win out in all of our lives.
It has taken me a lot of years to be at peace with myself and my actions or lack of actions with my family. Pushing my love for Jesus on others and my desire for everyone to have a relationship with him might only push people further away from him. Loving actions of mercy will bring others to Christ. When the truth must be spoken, I must speak with great love and mercy and not condemnation.
Remembering the “Our Father” and adding forgive me my trespasses to the same extent that I forgive the trespasses of others helps me greatly. God knows I need his forgiveness.
Mike Burke; Saturday, January 23, 2016
Seeking To Reflect Jesus 