Depending on Our Spiritual Kinships
- davidwperk
- Jan 21
- 6 min read
Devotional Reflection, Tuesday, January 21, 2025
The week of the second Sunday after Epiphany
The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.
Key phrases for reflection from today’s reading:
Then he went home; 20and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’ 22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ . . .
31 Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. 32A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ 33And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ 34And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’
You will find the full text of this reading from Mark at the end of this reflection.
Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 944):
AM Psalm 26, 28; PM Psalm 36, 39
Isa. 44:9-20; Eph. 4:17-32; Mark 3:19b-35
Today we celebrate the Feast of Agnes and Cecilia. (See below.)
David’s Reflections
Edward Feinstein shares the stories of an old Rabbi once asking his pupils how they could tell when the night had ended and the day had begun. "Could it be," asked one of the students, "when you see an animal in the distance and can tell whether it's a sheep or a dog?"
"No," answered the Rabbi.
Another asked, "Is it when you can look at a tree in the distance and tell whether it is a fig tree or a peach tree?"
"No," answered the Rabbi.
"Then, when is it?” the pupils demands.
"It is when you can look on the face of any man or woman and see that it is your sister or brother. Because if you cannot see this, it is still night.” #
Jesus found himself alienated from the religious establishment. They could not see Jesus’ face, so to speak. They accused him of being in league with the demonic in his exorcisms and healings. He also found himself alienated from his own family. They had concluded that he was beside himself and had come from Nazareth to Capernaum to take him home and seclude him until he came to his senses. (The Greek original of verses 20-21 refer literally to “those with him,” either relatives or friends, who came to restrain him because they believed he was beside himself. Our translation correctly renders that phrase as “family.”)
How poignantly sad that Jesus’ own relatives were in the dark and could not “see Jesus’ face,” to use the words of the rabbinic tale. They had not a clue about his identity and mission. They must have felt like strangers to him in that moment, sharing in the judgment of the religious leaders that Jesus himself was in the grip of demonic powers, “beside himself” as it were. (John 7 reenforces this story. There we learn that Jesus' brothers did not believe in him.)
Jesus intuited their mission without interacting with them, and from within the house bound himself to his followers in a radical avowal of community. “Whoever does the will of God is my mother, and my brother, and my sister.” If God is father and mother of us all, then Jesus becomes our older brother and our relational ties in the Christian community become our most significant and supportive ones.
You may never have thought of yourself as brother or sister to Jesus, but today’s Gospel dares to assert that you are. You may not have considered your fellow believers in the Christian community as family, as fathers, mothers, brothers, sisters, but today’s Gospel makes them so. For each blood relative who disparages or undervalues your faith and beliefs, you can find a spiritual relative who resonates with your faith, your questions, your struggles, and your desires.
The rabbi was right. We know when the dark night of our spiritual aloneness has ended. That night dies under the assault of the love and embrace of the community. In the growing light of our altered vision, we discern the loving looks of our faith family, our loving brothers and sisters. We are not alone. The trick is to remain open to connection with those who disparage and misunderstand us, not to personalize their misunderstandings. One of Jesus’ unbelieving brothers, James, became a disciple and a key leader of the Jerusalem church, according to Galatians 2, 1 Corinthians 15, and Acts. But that may have happened only after the risen Christ appeared to him (1 Cor 15:7).
Collect of the Day, Second Sunday after the Epiphany
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (BCP, 215)
Today we celebrate the Feast of Agnes (died ca. 304 CE) and Cecilia (died ca 176-180 CE), martyrs. http://www.satucket.com/lectionary/Agnes&cecilia.html
Collect of the Feast of Agnes and Cecilia
Almighty and everlasting God, who chooses those whom the world deems powerless to put the powerful to shame, Grant us so to cherish the memory of your youthful martyrs Agnes and Cecilia, that we might share their pure and steadfast faith in you; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God for ever and ever. Amen.
A Collect for Peace
O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 99)
For our Enemies
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 816)
A Prayer for Light
Grant us, Lord, the lamp of charity which never fails, that it may burn in us and shed its light on those around us, and that by its brightness we may have a vision of that holy City, where dwells the true and never-failing Light, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 110)
A Collect for Mission
Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified: Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before you for all members of your holy Church, that in their vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you; through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. (BCP, 100)
Daily Office Gospel, Mark 3:19b-35
19and Judas Iscariot, who betrayed him.
Then he went home; 20and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. 21When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, ‘He has gone out of his mind.’ 22And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, ‘He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.’ 23And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, ‘How can Satan cast out Satan? 24If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. 26And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. 27But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.
28 ‘Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; 29but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin’— 30for they had said, ‘He has an unclean spirit.’
31 Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. 32A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, ‘Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.’ 33And he replied, ‘Who are my mother and my brothers?’ 34And looking at those who sat around him, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers! 35Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.’
Daily Offices in the Book of Common Prayer
Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, The Book of Common Prayer
Noonday Prayer, page 103, Book of Common Prayer
Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p 109, Book of Common Prayer
Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer
Compline (Night Prayer), page 127, Book of Common Prayer
Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer
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