Sunday, June 6, 2027 · Year B
Tenth Sunday in Ordinary Time
Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother
After the first sin, God calls out to Adam, “Where are you?” and promises that the offspring of the woman will strike the serpent’s head. In Mark, some say Jesus is out of His mind or possessed, but He shows that He has come to bind the strong man, Satan. Those who do God’s will are His family.
Mass Readings
- First Reading Genesis 3:9-15
- Responsorial Psalm Psalm 130:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8
- Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
- Gospel Mark 3:20-35
Open the Mass Readings on USCCB.org →
First Reading Genesis 3:9-15
After eating from the forbidden tree, Adam hides. God asks, “Where are you?” Adam blames the woman, and the woman blames the serpent. God curses the serpent and puts enmity between it and the woman, between its offspring and hers; he will strike at its head.
Psalm Psalm 130
With the Lord there is mercy and fullness of redemption.
Second Reading 2 Corinthians 4:13-5:1
We believe and so we speak, knowing that the One who raised Jesus will raise us too. Our outer self is wasting away, but our inner self is renewed day by day. If our earthly tent is destroyed, we have a dwelling from God, eternal in heaven.
Gospel Mark 3:20-35
Jesus’ relatives think He is out of His mind, and scribes say He drives out demons by Beelzebul. Jesus answers that a kingdom divided cannot stand, and no one can plunder a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. Whoever does the will of God is His brother, sister and mother.
Step Into the Story
After the first sin God goes looking for Adam: “Where are you?” Adam blames Eve, Eve blames the serpent, and the oldest excuses in the world are spoken. “Beelzebul” likely mocks Baal-zebub, the god of the Philistine city of Ekron, “lord of the flies.” Hebrew and Aramaic had no separate word for cousin; Genesis calls Lot, Abraham’s nephew, his “brother,” as St. Jerome argued against Helvidius around 383 A.D.
- 63 B.C.Pompey takes Jerusalem
- 4 B.C.Antipas rules Galilee
- 14 A.D.Tiberius becomes emperor
- c. 20 A.D.Antipas founds Tiberias
- This week’s scene: c. 28 A.D.Crowds pack the house
Squeeze into a house in Capernaum, in about 28 A.D., where Jesus has come home. The crowd is so thick that He and His disciples cannot even eat. Feel the press of bodies and the heat of the packed room. Among the crowd are scribes who have come down from Jerusalem, some eighty miles, saying that He drives out demons by the prince of demons.
Now look outside. His relatives have heard the talk; some say He is out of His mind. His mother and His brethren are standing in the street. They cannot get in, so they send word through the crowd. Stand near the door, between the house and the street, and wait for Jesus to answer the message.
Encounter the Lord
Stand in the garden in the cool of the evening. You hear God walking, and you hide. Then His voice: “Where are you?” He knows where Adam is. He is giving him the chance to come out.
Sin makes us hide from God and blame others. Adam blames Eve; Eve blames the serpent. But God does not abandon them. In the same breath that He judges the serpent, He promises a Savior. In the Gospel that Savior has come: Jesus is the stronger one who ties up the strong man and sets his captives free. The only sin that cannot be forgiven is the refusal of the forgiveness He offers. And He invites you into His family on one condition: do the will of God.
This week, answer God’s question honestly in prayer: “Where are you?” Name one place where you are hiding from Him, and bring it to Confession.
Know Your Faith
- 67·what sin is
- 68·original sin
- 69·whether we must sin because of original sin
The First Sin
The account of the fall in Genesis 3 uses figurative language, but affirms a primeval event that took place at the beginning of human history (CCC 390). Man, tempted by the devil, let his trust in his Creator die in his heart and disobeyed God (CCC 397).
The First Gospel
After the fall, God did not abandon man. He announced the coming victory over evil and the restoration from the fall; this passage is called the Protoevangelium, the first announcement of the Messiah and Redeemer (CCC 410-411).
Christ, Stronger than Satan
Jesus’ exorcisms free some individuals from the domination of demons and anticipate His great victory over “the ruler of this world” (CCC 550). There are no limits to God’s mercy, but anyone who deliberately refuses to accept it by repenting rejects forgiveness (CCC 1864).
The Family of Jesus
Man in paradise was created in friendship with God, in a state of original holiness and justice (CCC 374-376). By his sin Adam lost this for himself and for all his descendants (CCC 416-417).
Key Takeaways
- Scripture
- Doctrine
- Sacraments
- Christian Life
- Doctrine: The first sin was a real event that wounded all humanity.
- Scripture: Right after the fall, God promised a Savior who would defeat evil.
- Doctrine: Jesus has power over Satan and came to set us free from sin.
- Christian Life: Doing the will of God makes us members of Jesus’ family.
Test Your Knowledge
True or false? Tap your answer.
After the first sin, Adam and Eve hid from God.
True.
The Catechism teaches that the fall is a myth with no real event behind it.
False: it affirms a primeval event at the beginning of human history, CCC 390.
Genesis 3:15 is called the Protoevangelium, or first Gospel.
True.
The scribes accused Jesus of driving out demons by Beelzebul.
True.
Jesus said a house divided against itself will stand.
False: it cannot stand (Mark 3:25).
Some sins are beyond God’s mercy no matter how sincerely one repents.
False: there are no limits to God’s mercy for those who repent, CCC 1864.
Jesus’ exorcisms anticipate His victory over Satan.
True.
Jesus said that whoever does the will of God is His brother, sister and mother.
True.
Paul writes that our inner self is being renewed day by day.
True.
Psalm 130 begins, “Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.”
True.
Answers: 1 T · 2 F (it affirms a primeval event at the beginning of human history, CCC 390) · 3 T · 4 T · 5 F (it cannot stand (Mark 3:25)) · 6 F (there are no limits to God’s mercy for those who repent, CCC 1864) · 7 T · 8 T · 9 T · 10 T
Journal Prompts
Where am I hiding from God right now?
Whom do I tend to blame instead of owning my faults?
Do I really believe Jesus is stronger than any evil I face?
What would it mean for me this week to do the will of God?
Talk to God
Lord Jesus, You came to bind the strong man and set captives free. When I hide from You, call me out by name. Forgive my sins, protect me from the Evil One, and make me part of Your family. Amen.