DEALING WITH FAMILY FEUDS

Mark 3:20, 21

His family ... came to take charge of him, saying 'He is out of his mind.' v.21

Jesus told us that our family will not always understand or support our faith in him when he said to the apostles, "Brother will hand over brother to death … children will turn against parents and have them put to death. You will be hated by all on account of me. But whoever holds out till the end will escape death." (Mt 10:21, 22)

TOTAL COMMITMENT REQUIRED

In Matthew 10:37 Jesus asked for a total commitment, one greater than that to our blood families when he said, "Whoever loves father or mother, son or daughter, more than me is not worthy of me." He contrasted his family who said he was "out of his mind" and his spiritual family when he said, "Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me.” (Mk 3:35)

Does this mean we are not to love our family? Jesus also said, "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Mk 12:31) Surely our family qualifies as our "neighbor." Paul taught, "Wives should be submissive to their husbands as if to the Lord" and "husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church." (Eph 5:22, 25) Obviously, Jesus and the apostles desired that faith in Christ would fulfill the great commandment to love, and love would strengthen rather than weaken families.

However, some believe and some do not. Today’s Gospel reading indicates that Jesus' family, possibly including even Mary, didn't fully understand him. No doubt, even the early church was filled with misunderstanding, despite the gift of the Spirit and the leadership of the apostles! Today’s church is no different.

LOVE YOUR ENEMIES

How do we relate to those who do not understand us? Do we love them or hate them? Even if they are our enemies, Jesus said, "Love your enemies." (Mt 5:44.) Do we really "love" our family members who do not understand us? Can we still love them when they claim to be "Christian" and clearly aren’t following Christ? The one who can love us all the best is Jesus. If we love him more than anyone, we will come to really love everyone, especially family members.

John Michael Talbot