Good Morning,
Welcome to your online worship from St. Mark’s for Sunday, June 9, 2024.
In my sermon for this Sunday, we explore Jesus’ invitation to “follow me” as a call to leave behind worldly pressures and embrace God’s will, forming a new spiritual family. Through the opposition Jesus faces from religious leaders and even his own family, we see the challenges of choosing to follow Him. Despite these challenges, Jesus’ message remains clear: those who do God’s will are his true family, offering love, forgiveness, and eternal belonging.
Today’s Opening Sentence
The ruler of this world shall now be cast out; and when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw all people to myself. – John 12.31, 32
Today’s Reading – Mark 3:20-35
And the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But 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.
“Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”— for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.”
Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”1
Your Online Message and Prayers
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Reflection questions for the week:
- What are the main distractions or pressures in my life that make it difficult for me to hear and follow God’s call? How can I start to tune these out to better listen for God’s voice?
- In what areas of my life do I feel God is inviting me to do God’s will more fully? How can I respond to this invitation and align my actions with God’s intentions?
- How do I currently define ‘family’ in my life? What steps can I take to foster a sense of spiritual family with those who share in doing God’s will?
- What does ‘following Jesus’ look like in my daily life? What practical changes can I make to ensure that my choices reflect my commitment to being a part of God’s family?
A continued reminder that if you are at all uncomfortable being in-person for worship, or if you are not feeling well, please join us here online.
Thank you again for joining with your parish family in our online worship today.
Find out how you can support our ministry and good work in the community here.
God Bless you and have a blessed week. Be well!
Peace,
The Rev’d Canon Rob Park
- Scripture quotation is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.