“If you put out acceptance and warmth, you tend to attract the same.”

“If God were our one and only desire we would not be so easily upset when our opinions do not find outside acceptance.” ― Thomas à Kempis: (1380 – 1471: was a Dutch canon regular and the author of “The Imitation of Christ”)

Gospel Text: (MK 3:20-21)

Jesus came with his disciples into the house.

Again the crowd gathered,

making it impossible for them even to eat.

When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,

for they said, “He is out of his mind.”

Being misunderstood by even the ones closest to us is something most of us, I think, have experienced at one time or another. This Gospel passage challenges us to continue to strive to understand each other, out of love.

Often it seems that in our society we have difficulty taking the time to understand each other, especially those who come from a different background or experience. But if we are to truly come together, we have to try to understand each other, as inefficient a process as that may be. We may even find how much we have in common!

May understanding bring forth acceptance, and may acceptance bring forth love, and may love help bring forth the kingdom!