[ Today's Readings ]
When his relatives heard of this they set out to seize him,
for they said, “He is out of his mind.”
There are times when people are going to think we're out of our minds if we're living for the kingdom. When we seem to ignore things the world regards as important ("making it impossible for them even to eat") the world gets worried. Is there possible more to life than this? Criticism is a quick way for it to shut down the introspection that kingdom lives produce. But we must be willing to be seen this way for the very sakes of those who criticize us.
For if we are out of our minds, it is for God (cf. 2nd Corinthians 5:13)
It isn't that we are going around condemning people. Our very lives can be hard for them to bear.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts;
merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like that of others,
and different are his ways (cf. Wisdom 2:14-15).
But it is precisely for this reason that we can be a blessing to them. It is because David puts the LORD first that he is still able to feel compassion for Saul and Jonathan even though they take up arms against him. He continues to love them. He does not celebrate the death of those who try to kill him.
They mourned and wept and fasted until evening
for Saul and his son Jonathan,
and for the soldiers of the LORD of the clans of Israel,
because they had fallen by the sword.
The world probably regards this as crazy. And this is why what we have is just the antidote to the world's sanity.
We don't come to this way of thinking through our own efforts. We have the mind of Christ (cf. 1st Corinthians 2:16) because his Spirit dwells in us (1st Corinthians 3:16). Let's embrace the Spirit even when it seems crazy. Only if this craziness replaces the supposed sanity of the world will peace truly flourish.
O shepherd of Israel, hearken,
O guide of the flock of Joseph!
From your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth
before Ephraim, Benjamin and Manasseh.
Rouse your power,
and come to save us.
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