Friends,
today in the Gospel John complains to Jesus that some people not of
their group were driving out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus responds:
“Don’t prevent them.…whoever is not against us is for us.” What a
wonderful, generous attitude!
John
was undoubtedly angry that someone outside of their little circle was
going to get credit. If you think that this sort of thing only happened
in biblical times, you haven’t spent too much time around the Church!
I’m a proud churchman, and I love and admire all of the great people who
do so much for Christ’s kingdom, and for very little compensation. But
I’ve also been around long enough to see this problem on parish staffs,
in diocesan offices, within rectories, and among parish communities. We
get so tied up in our little games and protecting our turf, and making
sure things go according to the bureaucratic structures that we have
established, that we forget what the mission is about.
What
Jesus saw was that the mission is what matters. Bringing God’s love to
the world, being a conduit of grace: that’s what matters. All of our
personal glory, position, privilege—all of that is finally a matter of
indifference.
Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Lectionary: 343
Wisdom breathes life into her children
and admonishes those who seek her.
He who loves her loves life;
those who seek her will be embraced by the Lord.
He who holds her fast inherits glory;
wherever he dwells, the LORD bestows blessings.
Those who serve her serve the Holy One;
those who love her the LORD loves.
He who obeys her judges nations;
he who hearkens to her dwells in her inmost chambers.
If one trusts her, he will possess her;
his descendants too will inherit her.
She walks with him as a stranger
and at first she puts him to the test;
Fear and dread she brings upon him
and tries him with her discipline
until she try him by her laws and trust his soul.
Then she comes back to bring him happiness
and reveal her secrets to them
and she will heap upon him
treasures of knowledge and an understanding of justice.
But if he fails her, she will abandon him
and deliver him into the hands of despoilers.
John said to Jesus,
"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us."
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment