Homily Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time

On June 9, 2024.

Cycle B.

• First Reading: Genesis 3:9–15Adam and Eve eat the fruit of the forbidden tree.

• Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1–2,3–4,5–6,7–8 (7bc)Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.

• Second Reading: 2 Corinthians 4:13—5:1We believe and so we speak.

• Gospel Reading: Mark 3:20–35Whoever does the will of God is brother and sister and mother to me.

He is out of his mind

When we reflect on our way of life, we can usually find a story of strengths and weaknesses. We remember our significant accomplishments, but we also remember our failures. We constantly engage in a struggle between good and evil. Each of us faces unique situations in our lives; we carry secrets, confront daily weaknesses, and sometimes struggle to achieve success. These demons who invite us to fall are always appearing and offer momentary comfort, but when the moment has already happened, we run the risk of leaving the demon installed, and we remain in addictions or bad habits.

The first reading is an interesting story that reminds us of our condition as human beings. There is an evil inclination when we face it. Pope Francis said some years ago, in one of his homilies, that with “the evil we should not converse because it always defeat us." Genesis emphasizes today in our human condition, showing it through Adam and Eve; the serpent tricked them, and they fell in the temptation. When Eve became aware of her fault, God asked her, “Why did you do such a thing?”  The woman answered, “The serpent tricked me into it.”

We are living in a world where evil frequently appears; it could appear in different forms in our culture, society, or even family. Occasionally, we are struggling against social trends that, once in a while, can engage us in different activities that make us fall for the temptation. Struggle countercurrent is a challenge in our days, but it was also for Jesus, whose family said that “he is out of his mind.” Besides, the scribes said that “he is possessed by Beelzebul.”

At that time, Jesus was beginning his public life, and he shared a new form of life. He was accused by the scribes of casting out demons “by the prince of demons.” Jesus points out to them the absurdity of their thinking: “How can Satan drive out Satan?” Jesus invites us to change our lives; he wants to cast out our demons, our addictions, and our interior division. In fact, it is Jesus who ties up the strong man, Beelzebul, and overcomes him; in the same way, Jesus helps us overcome the interior division, addictions, and bad habits, although we go countercurrent.

Overcoming Beelzebul, who manifests in different forms, is not easy. It implies a good discernment, to deepen in ourselves, and to never doubt the forgiveness of sins, because on the other hand, we will blasphemy the Holy Spirit. Hence, the Holy Spirit is an inexhaustible source of grace who helps us approach true life and supports us in the battle against our demons and problems. This battle is so complicated; however, Saint Paul encouraged his community to continue working for the kingdom. “Therefore, we are not discouraged; rater, although our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day.”

Brothers and sisters, it is worth remaining in the Holy Spirit; he leads us to the best life even when we experience pain and complications in this world. “What is seen is transitory, but what is unseen is eternal.” When we understand that, our lives become lighter and simpler, the Spirit handles us in a good way, and we begin to call family to others because, through the Spirit, we can love others. That was the logic of Jesus: "Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister, and mother."

Let us encourage ourselves to accomplish the best life, which is promised by Jesus. We must remember that we are looking for eternal life; Paul today gives us a good reminder: “We know that if our earthly dwelling, a tent, should be destroyed, we have a building from God, a dwelling not made with hands, eternal in heaven.” God bless you for helping to accomplish a life without divisions.