He is out of his Mind : How to Understand this?

GOSPEL THOUGHTS

*Ordinary Season:  Second Week :  Saturday*

*Gospel :  Mark 3:20-21*

*First Reading : 2 Sam 1:1-4, 11-12, 19, 23-27*

*Responsorial Psalm : 80:2-3, 5-7*

*He is out of his Mind : How to Understand this?*

*1) What does “He is out of his mind” mean?*

The phrase comes from the Greek exestē, which literally means:

“to be beside oneself”

“to be overwhelmed”

“to lose normal self-control”

It does not necessarily mean clinical insanity the way we think of mental illness today. Rather, it suggests:

extreme behavior

reckless intensity

acting beyond accepted social norms

*Jesus was:*

attracting massive crowds

neglecting rest and food (v. 20)

challenging religious authorities

redefining family, Sabbath, and purity laws

To many observers, this looked dangerous, excessive, and destabilizing.

*2) Who is saying this—and why?*

There are two groups in the immediate context:

*A) His family (or close kin)*

They come to “restrain” him (literally: to seize or take control). Why?

Fear for his safety

Fear of public disgrace

Fear of Roman or religious retaliation

Genuine concern that he’s pushing himself too far

This is painfully human. Even those who love Jesus don’t yet understand his mission.

*B) The scribes (v. 22)*

They go further and claim:

“He has Beelzebul.”

So Mark places “He is out of his mind” between: family misunderstanding and religious leaders’ hostility

Jesus is rejected both privately and publicly.

*3) What is Mark trying to show us?*

Mark’s Gospel emphasizes conflict, urgency, and misunderstanding. This verse shows:

Jesus is not misunderstood only by enemies

Even love can resist God’s purposes

True obedience to God can look irrational to the world

This prepares us for Jesus’ later words: “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” (Mark 3:35)

*4) Deeper Reflections* 

*A) Faithfulness to God can look like madness*

When someone lives entirely for God’s will:

priorities shift

social expectations break

comfort is abandoned

From the outside, that kind of life can look irresponsible or extreme.

What looks like madness to the world may be obedience to God.

*B) Good intentions can still oppose God*

Jesus’ family wasn’t evil or malicious.

They were loving, afraid, and protective—yet still mistaken.

This is a sobering reminder:

love does not guarantee understanding

sincerity does not equal spiritual insight

Sometimes the strongest resistance to God’s work comes from those closest to us.

*C) Jesus enters fully into human misunderstanding*

This verse shows Jesus was :

misjudged

labeled

restrained

spoken about rather than listened to

He knows what it is like to be misunderstood—even by family.

*D) Discipleship involves redefinition of belonging*

This episode leads directly to Jesus redefining family—not by blood, but by obedience to God.

It challenges us to ask:

Where do I find my identity?

Whose approval matters most?

Am I willing to be misunderstood for faithfulness?

*If Jesus were walking among us today, would we recognize faith—or would we call it fanaticism?*

*Think about it*

*God bless you and your family. Praying for you and your dear ones*

*Fr Maxim DSouza*

*Jeppu Seminary*

*Mangalore*