Tagbilaran Diocese Website

September 27, 2009
Twenty Sixth Sunday in OT (B)
Numbers 11: 25-29 / Psalm 19:8,10,12-14 /
James 5: 1-6 / Mark 9: 38-43,45, 47-48
A LESSON OF OPENING ONE’S FRONTIERS

Word: This gospel reading is a parallel to the first reading (Number 11:25-29) the story of Elada and Medad. An exorcist who was not one of the inner group of disciples was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. The disciples tried to stop him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us” (Mk 9:38). But Jesus was more tolerant, noting that someone using his name for good would not be likely to speak ill of him: “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” (Mk 9:39). Jesus enunciated a good principle for the church in any age—whoever is not against us is for us. Even someone who gives a disciple a drink of water because he bears Jesus’ name will be rewarded.
Jesus had earlier spoken about receiving “little ones,” the humblest members of the community, and the subject is again visited here from a negative perspective. Now Jesus speaks to those who impede the progress of those little ones who follow him: “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe (in me) to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea” (Mk 9:39). Being a “bad example” is not an insignificant trifle but a serious offense.

o0o
Order: We may think, “These people are not Christians! They do not belong to our group, or to our party.” We may demand, “Show your papers! You are not Catholic, not a practicing Catholic, you don’t belong to my club or my school, you are a leftist or a rightist, an arch-conservative or liberal—hence, I am not listening to you! If I can, I shall silence you, I shall prevent you from acting like this!”
It is a fact, no doubt about it, sectarianism is not yet a thing of the past. Jealousy, rivalry and petty quarrels—even within the Church, do exist. As it existed among the Twelve, in those days. They are bogged down in their positions and dominions. John would like to keep “the power of Christ” for himself.
However, let us not judge the Apostles. Let us rather examine our own behavior. This gospel deals with one of the most burning questions of our own days: is the saving grace of Christ at work only within the “visible” frontiers of the Church? Let us remember the very first message of Pope John Paul II: “Do not be afraid! Open your frontiers!”
o0o
Realities: There is a story about two businessmen who were great rivals. When one got a computer the other got two. When one got a cellular phone the other got two. When one built a storehouse the other built two. One day an angel appeared to one of them and offered, “you can ask for anything you like and you will get it. However, your rival will get two of whatever you ask for?” “You mean,” he asked, “if I asked for $1,000,000 I would get it?” “Yes you would get it,” answered the angel, “but your rival will get $2,000,000.”
“How soon do I have to answer?” asked the businessman. “I will be back tomorrow morning for the answer.” That night the businessman tossed and turned but when the angel came back he had his answer ready. “I will settle,” he said, “for one blind eye!”
Fr. Jerry Pierce has written this reflection. “Jealousy and rivalry are to be found everywhere that there are people, but in some way they are the special vices of religious and so-called holy people. I have known many ‘holy’ people who were doing good work but who got most upset when others did the same. There are some who establish fiefdoms of loving, but woe betide the person who steps into that fiefdom unannounced or uninvited. St. John of the Cross used to say that spiritual riches can be just as destructive and - more subtly so - than material riches. A businessman may be openly working to make money and a politician openly seeking power - but a cleric may be seeking a bishopric through a self-seeking loyalty, or a sister seeking adulation through her apparent self-sacrificing zeal for the poor. Both of them can at the same time be seething with jealousy towards anyone who may appear to be a rival on their “turf.”
“Should we be surprised that these things happen! If we are we have not read the Bible, the book that never hides the human weakness of its heroes. We find jealousy raising its ugly head among the disciples in today’s gospel.” (Gerry Pierse, C.Ss.R., Sundays Into Silence, pp. 296-297)
o0o
Direction : O Lord, grant us faith, the faith that removes the mask from the world and manifest God in all things; the faith that enables everything to be seen in another light; that shows us the greatness of God and lets us see our own littleness; that shows us Christ where our eyes see only a poor person; that shows us the Savior where we feel only pain. (Prayer for the Faith that Overcomes All, Part One, Blessed Charles Foucauld <1858-1916> Religious, Hermit, and Founder)

This entry was posted on Friday, September 18th, 2009 at 6:24 pm and is filed under Stories.