Our Call to True Kinship in Christ Jesus

Homily for the Tenth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Scripture Texts: Genesis 3:9-15; 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1; Mark 3:20-35

In the beginning, God created man and woman in his image and likeness, establishing a relationship of intimate communion. Adam and Eve enjoyed direct fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden, walking with him in the cool of the day (Genesis 3:8). This relationship was marked by trust, openness, and unbroken communion, reflecting God’s original plan for humanity to live in harmony with him and all creation.

However, the Fall introduced sin into the world and fundamentally altered the nature of humanity’s relationship with God. Adam and Eve’s disobedience led to fear, shame, guilt, and separation. They hid from God, symbolizing the rupture in their communion with him (Genesis 3:10). Sin created a barrier between humanity and God, bringing consequences such as pain, toil, and death. However, even in this broken state, God sought reconciliation, promising redemption through the offspring of the woman (Genesis 3:15).

That is why the psalm of today reassures us of God’s boundless mercy. The psalmist cries out from the depths, seeking God’s forgiveness and expressing profound trust in his redeeming love: “If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be revered” (Psalm 130:3-4). This psalm highlights that no matter the depth of our sins, God’s mercy is greater, offering us redemption and restoration.

But then, the words of Jesus in the gospel reading seem to contradict this assurance of the boundless nature of God’s mercy. In that passage, Jesus warned the Scribes about blaspheming against the Holy Spirit, saying, “Whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit never has forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin” (Mark 3:29). This grave warning is not a limitation on the power of God to forgive sins but emphasizes the seriousness of rejecting the Spirit’s work in our lives. All other sins can be forgiven when we seek God’s mercy, but the persistent refusal to accept the Holy Spirit’s convicting power leads to spiritual ruin. Adam and Eve were forgiven because they acknowledged their sins; they knew they had let God down. But in our time, we have people who revel in their sins and refuse to turn to the mercy of God.

Unlike sin and disobedience that separate us from God as we saw in the case of Adam and Eve in the first reading, doing the will of God unites us with Jesus and makes us one family with him. That is why Jesus redefined true kinship by saying, “Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother” (Mark 3:35). This statement reveals that obedience to God’s will transcends biological ties and forms a spiritual family united in Christ. Sin separates us from God, but doing his will unites us with Jesus, integrating us into his divine family. We are called to live as children of God, embracing our identity as members of Christ’s body, and fostering relationships rooted in love, obedience, and mutual support.

Lastly, let us embrace this call to live in true kinship with Christ, seeking his forgiveness and striving to do his will. As we trust in God’s mercy and commit to living according to his will, we become united with Jesus and each other in a bond of divine love and communion. May we always strive to live as members of God's family, reflecting His love and grace in all our relationships. Amen.