²⁰… and 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.”

³¹Then 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.”

• Light a candle to remember Christ’s presence with you.
• Sit five to fifteen minutes in silent meditation paying close attention to the deep breath.
• As you sit in silence, let go of anything that pops into your conscious.  Write it down if it helps you let it go.  Allow yourself to become as free as possible.
• Think of those who have been your brother, your sister, your mother.
• Who has nurtured you? listened to you?  held you? played with you? challenged you? grown you?
• What do you see in these family members that displays the will of God?
• How is the Holy Spirit alive in them?
• How has the unclean spirit been driven out of you?
• What is the will of God asking of you today?
• Listen for God’s call.
• Follow God’s path.
• Embrace the brothers and sisters and mothers God places in your way.
• Give thanks to God for this time in prayer and for any new insights you have received.
• Share as you feel led in the reply box below.