A House Divided

The crowd came together again, so that Jesus and his disciples could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, "He has gone out of his mind." And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, "He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons." And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, "How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man's house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered.

"Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin" -- for they had said, "He has an unclean spirit."

Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you." And he replied, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother." Mark 3:20-35


A House Divided

They don't remember how it started
a little crack turned to a fissure
They erupt with hurt and anger
and ache for love to come again.

A house divided cannot stand
our toil is that of mending and darning
turning holes into whole cloth again
and making new rooms for love.

My brothers and sisters are outside
and my family too is here with me
there is not inside or out
not exiles, rejected or deportees
blood and water can bring birth
but love and inclusion brings family.


A house divided cannot stand
our toil is that of mending and darning
turning holes into whole cloth again
and making new rooms for love.

We are different you and me
alike but dissimilar tenor and alto
we sing harmony in the choir
and round our every chord.


A house divided cannot stand
our toil is that of mending and darning
turning holes into whole cloth again
and making new rooms for love.

God has made this messy group one family
how can we but grow together?
Learning to forgive and start anew
dancing in the moonlight letting regret
and fury pass out into the night.


A house divided cannot stand
our toil is that of mending and darning
turning holes into whole cloth again
and making new rooms for love.