"Do Not Prevent Him!" ~ A Reflection on the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Nm 11:25-29

Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 (9a)

Jm 5:1-6

Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

In this Sunday's Gospel reading, Mark gives us an instance showing that the disciples did not yet understand that Jesus' Kingdom was open to all people.  That the ministry of healing, for example, was not exclusively given to the disciples of Jesus.

It appears that others were curing the sick in Jesus' name.  This was alarming to the disciples.  Perhaps they even felt a little jealous that this power had gone beyond their little group.  John came to Jesus with their concerns.

But Jesus, knowing their fears, showed his disciples what was the important issue here.  The people who were healing others were not strangers to the teachings of Jesus.  They had followed Jesus and believed in him even though they were not members of his inner circle.  And most importantly, they were healing in Jesus' name; not in their own names or in the name of other gods.

Jesus was very clear when he told his disciples that anyone who did mighty deeds in his name could not speak ill of him at the same time.  That anyone who "is not against us is for us."

Moses faced a similar issue in his own time.  In the first reading from the Book of Numbers, we learn that the Lord gave some of the spirit that was on Moses to the seventy elders, causing them to begin prophesying.  Two of the elders were not with the group but had stayed in the camp when the Lord bestowed the spirit.  Nonetheless, those two men began to prophesy also.  Joshua became alarmed when he was told what was happening and went to Moses asking that these two elders be stopped from prophesying.  Moses, understanding that the Lord meant for all the elders to receive the spirit even though the two had been elsewhere, made it clear to Joshua that jealousy and alarm was not the appropriate response to the Lord's gift to his people.

Jesus also wanted to make sure that his followers would be careful of their actions; in relation to themselves and to others.  That it was very important that they not be the cause of another's sin; or to fall into sin themselves because of their evil desires.

In the second reading, St. James spells it out in detail for those who have fallen into sin or have caused others pain and suffering by their selfish actions.

The psalmist prays that sin not rule over him and instead, that he live a blameless and sinless life because he knows that God's laws endure forever.

        

 ~ Image Source:  Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church