TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, YR B
Numb 11:25-29; Ps 19
James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48
DO NOT STOP HIM
The gospel for this Sunday opens with John’s report of an encounter they had with a man who was driving out demons in the name of Jesus. He noted that they tried to stop him. Jesus mildly rebukes them for trying to stop the man. He taught them that it was not possible that anyone who spoke in his name would be against him.
“…because he does not follow us”
The reason John gave for attempting to stop the man was because the man was not a follower. But it is interesting that he uses “us”. What did he mean by this? Shouldn’t it be about Jesus? Sometimes like the disciples we put ourselves at the center of the activities of the church. We make ourselves the visible focal point when in fact it should all be about Jesus. The man didn’t need to be a follower of the disciples or be part of their group. We must recognize always that Jesus should be the center of every activity in the church. It should all be about Jesus. Many people in the church leadership these days have grown to have an over bloated sense of importance and forget about Jesus.
This attitude of the disciples is also an attempt to create special group around Jesus. But Jesus opens it up to invite and include all people of Goodwill who profess him even in their hearts. Everything about the church and her apostolate should be about Jesus. We should never forget this.
“Do not prevent him”
Here, Jesus offers a mild rebuke of the disciples not to stop this man. The present form of the Greek word used-“me koluete”, “do not stop him”, indicates that this rebuke and command is not only for the disciples at the time but for us also today. The power to work in the name of Jesus comes from him. It means that it is possible for others who are not part of our fold to work in the name of Jesus, and no such person will say evil things about Jesus.
This is not a license for charlatans to parade themselves falsely in the name of Jesus. This is because by their fruits you shall know them. (Mt 7:16).
By this, Jesus teaches us to be tolerant and open to others who may be different from us. That we should recognize that his power cannot be confined or controlled by us. It is important then to be ready to work with other people recognizing the good in them.
“…he cannot quickly speak ill of me”
When Jesus asked that people like this are not stopped, the reason he gave was that they will not immediately speak evil about him. It is to guard against relativism, which holds that truth and morality is not absolute. If this is the case then we would say all supposed Christian practice is correct or all religion is right, but this saying of Jesus is to indicate that people needed to be given time to come to the true and full knowledge of him. In the end all people would have to make a commitment to Jesus. While the attitude of the disciples must be tolerance and patience, all others must make a decision to be part of Jesus’ fold for he says, “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters”.(Mt 12:30)
“Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink…”
After admonishing the disciples to be tolerant and patient, he promises reward to those who are charitable towards them. He says anyone who does as little as giving a cup of water will be rewarded. The truth is that giving a cup of water is the simplest, cheapest and easiest act of charity. And any of these acts of Charity to the disciples will be rewarded by God, but note that the reward will be only because they are disciples of Christ. What does it mean to be a disciple of Christ?
To be a disciple of Christ is to preach the good news. Evangelization is the greatest act of charity. Any act of kindness towards those doing the work of God, no matter how little, will not be overlooked by God.
May the Lord help us to be good disciples. May he make us tolerant and patient towards others. May we have the ability to journey with others on their way to fully know the Lord.
God bless you.
BY Rev. Fr. Delight Arnold Carbonu
