Readings: Num 11:25-29; Psalm 18:8,10,12-14; James 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43,45,47-48
THEME: NO ONE HAS MONOPPLY OF GOD’S BLESSINGS
- “…we forbade him because he was not following us”
Last Sunday, there was a crisis among the disciples, regarding who is the greatest among them, that is, who is more powerful and more a disciple than others.
They all believed that they are disciples and had some greatness in common, but they believed that one must be the greatest among them. Jesus corrected that notion.
Today, the disciples moved from internal struggle for greatness to external fight of who really deserves the privileges of a disciple. John said to Jesus, “we saw someone casting out demons in your name, we hindered him because he was not following us’ (Mk 9:38).
That is, John was like telling Jesus, “Ok Master, we have accepted that we do not have to fight among us for who is the greatest, but I am happy to tell you that we stopped someone who is outside us but performing works meant for people like us, your disciples.”
The problem the disciples had was not against casting out demons in the name of Christ, rather their problem was the ‘who’, that is, the agent doing the act. For them, the man was doing a good thing, but he had no authority to do that because he was not following them.
The disciples prevented the man because he was not following them, that is, he was not one of them. The criterion is no longer about ‘following Jesus’ but following the disciples. The disciples believed that whoever that belongs to Jesus must be within their group.
That is to say, for the disciples of Christ, to share in the powers of Christ and to use Christ’s name, one must be known and identified by the disciples. But Jesus cautioned them.
Not all who are called, are found moving with and staying in the company of the disciples. The whole of Jesus’ disciples was not only those moving around with him, but there were also those who stayed at home, in the camps etc.
We see this also in the first reading. God commanded Moses to select seventy elders and to bring them to the tent of meeting (Num 11:16). Moses gathered seventy men, whom he brought to the Lord, but there were still two men, Eldad and Medad who were remaining in the camp.
The Spirit given to the men who were in the tent of meeting was also extended to Eldad and Medad who were in the camp. The Scripture says that ‘they were among those registered, but they did not go to the tent of meeting.’
This is exactly what the disciples of Christ failed to understand. There are many others who are registered in the Lord’s book but are not brought to the tent of meeting. To such people, a share of the Spirit of God is also given.
- “No one who works miracle in my name can soon afterwards speak evil of Me”
Jesus defended the man and cautioned the disciples not to stop the man ‘because no one who works miracle in my name can soon afterward speak evil of Me.” It is true that this statement might be an instruction on not limiting the Spirit of God, but it is also an instruction to check the authenticity of the man’s power.
From Jesus’statement, the casting out demon in his name, must stand constantly in agreement with what one says about him (Jesus) both in words and actions. There is no way someone will be performing miracle using the name of Jesus but his life, what he says and does, speaks evil of Jesus, that is, gives bad witness of the name of Christ.
You cannot be performing miracle in Christ’s name, but at the same time, you are against him in matters of chastity of life, obedience to his voice, respect for people’s dignity, love for others, meekness and compassion etc.
Hence, Jesus was like telling the disciples, “if actually that man’s miracle is based on my name, you will know through his life, through his words and actions afterward, otherwise, though he calls my name and works wonders, I am far from him, and the authority and power is not from me.”
- No One Has Monopoly of God’s Love and Goodness
Is the attitude of the disciples in today’s reading not found among us today? We see some people who seem to be happy and successful in life, but we believe that such happiness and success should only be found among us, in our families, companies, businesses etc.
We believe that because someone is not a Christian like we are, or he/she is not of our domination, he/she has no right to succeed in life or live happily. When some other people’s children are succeeding in life, doing well in business, etc we become sad and begin to wish them evil in our hearts.
We must accept that we do not have monopoly of God’s blessings. We cannot cage the Spirit of God and lock him up and limit the action of God’s spirit only to whom we want. Even that person we think he/she does not belong to God’s people, even that person we have judged to be evil and deserving of worst that life can give, even that family we think we are better them in making efforts, in training our kids etc can also be blessed by God.
Joshua wanted Moses to stop Eldad and Medad because they were not in the tent of meeting; the disciples of Christ forbade a man from casting out demons using Christ’s name because he was not one of them, but both Joshua and the disciples were taught today that one must not be in the tent of meeting and in the college of the apostles respectively before he/she can be used by God or be blessed by God.
Hence, we must be willing to accept that we do not have monopoly of success, of happiness, of knowledge, of blessings of God.
Wishing you a lovely Sunday and a happy new Week!!
FR.HENRY CHUKWUEZUGO
DIOCESE OF AGULERI