42 “Whoever ensnares one of these little ones who trust me — it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be thrown in the sea. 43 If your hand makes you sin, cut it off! Better that you should be maimed but obtain eternal life, rather than keep both hands and go to Gei-Hinnom, to unquenchable fire! 45 And if your foot makes you sin, cut it off! Better that you should be lame but obtain eternal life, rather than keep both feet and be thrown into Gei-Hinnom! 47 And if your eye makes you sin, pluck it out! Better that you should be one-eyed but enter the Kingdom of God, rather than keep both eyes and be thrown into Gei-Hinnom,
48 where their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.[Mark 9:48 Isaiah 66:24]
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Whoever is not against us is for us. (Mark 9:40)
In the first reading, we see how Eldad and Medad created a mess. According to tradition, prophets had to go to the tabernacle outside of the camp in order to receive their prophetic words. But here were Eldad and Medad prophesying in God’s name within the encampment. Joshua told Moses to stop them. But Moses replied, “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets!” (Numbers 11:29)
Moving forward some twelve hundred years, we find John telling Jesus that a man was casting out demons in his name. John wanted to stop him, but Jesus seemed to have no problem. Let him go, even if it gets a bit messy, for “whoever is not against us is for us” (Mark 9:40)
Why couldn’t Joshua look at the prophetic words uttered by Eldad and Medad rather than focusing on the protocol? Why couldn’t John, who admitted that this stranger was successful in casting out demons, rejoice in his success and believe that this man had been given a gift from God?
Now, move forward to today. We have all heard Pope Francis calling us to create a “mess” in the Church. He has urged us to go out and reach individuals in their needs. “We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities,” he said, “when so many people are waiting for the Gospel.” We like to have things neat and tidy in our parishes, but the Holy Father is asking us to embrace the messiness that comes when we place mercy, kindness, and love ahead of propriety and tradition.
Of course Pope Francis honors tradition. Of course he loves truth. But he weeps over the condition of all of God’s children. That’s why he asks us to create the kind of mess that Jesus created when he welcomed a Roman centurion (Matthew 8:5-13), a much-divorced woman (John 4:4-42), a prostitute (Luke 7:36-50), and a tax collector (19:1-10). So go out there, and get your hands dirty!
“Here I am, Lord! Send me!” Amen!
Numbers 11:25 Adonai came down in the cloud, spoke to him, took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy leaders. When the Spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied — then but not afterwards.
26 There were two men who stayed in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad, and the Spirit came to rest on them. They were among those listed to go out to the tent, but they hadn’t done so, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moshe, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!” 28 Y’hoshua, the son of Nun, who from his youth up had been Moshe’s assistant, answered, “My lord, Moshe, stop them!” 29 But Moshe replied, “Are you so zealous to protect me? I wish all of Adonai’s people were prophets! I wish Adonai would put his Spirit on all of them!”
Psalm 19:8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person.
The instruction of Adonai is sure,
making wise the thoughtless.10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The rulings of Adonai are true,
they are righteous altogether,12 (11) Through them your servant is warned;
in obeying them there is great reward.
13 (12) Who can discern unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
14 (13) Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins,
so that they won’t control me.
Then I will be blameless
and free of great offense.James 5:1 Next, a word for the rich: weep and wail over the hardships coming upon you! 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have become moth-eaten; 3 your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat up your flesh like fire! This is the acharit-hayamim, and you have been storing up wealth! 4 Listen! The wages you have fraudulently withheld from the workers who mowed your fields are calling out against you, and the outcries of those who harvested have reached the ears of Adonai-Tzva’ot. 5 You have led a life of luxury and self-indulgence here on earth — in a time of slaughter, you have gone on eating to your heart’s content. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the innocent; they have not withstood you.Questions for Reflection or Group Discussion:
[Mass Readings:
1st Reading: Numbers 11:Numbers 11:25 Adonai came down in the cloud, spoke to him, took some of the Spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy leaders. When the Spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied — then but not afterwards.
26 There were two men who stayed in the camp, one named Eldad and the other Medad, and the Spirit came to rest on them. They were among those listed to go out to the tent, but they hadn’t done so, and they prophesied in the camp. 27 A young man ran and told Moshe, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp!” 28 Y’hoshua, the son of Nun, who from his youth up had been Moshe’s assistant, answered, “My lord, Moshe, stop them!” 29 But Moshe replied, “Are you so zealous to protect me? I wish all of Adonai’s people were prophets! I wish Adonai would put his Spirit on all of them!”
Responsorial: Psalm 19:8 (7) The Torah of Adonai is perfect,
restoring the inner person.
The instruction of Adonai is sure,
making wise the thoughtless.10 (9) The fear of Adonai is clean,
enduring forever.
The rulings of Adonai are true,
they are righteous altogether,12 (11) Through them your servant is warned;
in obeying them there is great reward.
13 (12) Who can discern unintentional sins?
Cleanse me from hidden faults.
14 (13) Also keep your servant from presumptuous sins,
so that they won’t control me.
Then I will be blameless
and free of great offense.2nd Reading: James 5:1 Next, a word for the rich: weep and wail over the hardships coming upon you! 2 Your riches have rotted, and your clothes have become moth-eaten; 3 your gold and silver have corroded, and their corrosion will be evidence against you and will eat up your flesh like fire! This is the acharit-hayamim, and you have been storing up wealth! 4 Listen! The wages you have fraudulently withheld from the workers who mowed your fields are calling out against you, and the outcries of those who harvested have reached the ears of Adonai-Tzva’ot. 5 You have led a life of luxury and self-indulgence here on earth — in a time of slaughter, you have gone on eating to your heart’s content. 6 You have condemned, you have murdered the innocent; they have not withstood you.
Gospel: Mark 9:38 Yochanan said to him, “Rabbi, we saw a man expelling demons in your name; and because he wasn’t one of us, we told him to stop.” 39 But Yeshua said, “Don’t stop him, because no one who works a miracle in my name will soon after be able to say something bad about me. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Indeed, whoever gives you even a cup of water to drink because you come in the name of the Messiah — yes! I tell you that he will certainly not lose his reward.
42 “Whoever ensnares one of these little ones who trust me — it would be better for him to have a millstone hung around his neck and be thrown in the sea. 43 If your hand makes you sin, cut it off! Better that you should be maimed but obtain eternal life, rather than keep both hands and go to Gei-Hinnom, to unquenchable fire! 45 And if your foot makes you sin, cut it off! Better that you should be lame but obtain eternal life, rather than keep both feet and be thrown into Gei-Hinnom! 47 And if your eye makes you sin, pluck it out! Better that you should be one-eyed but enter the Kingdom of God, rather than keep both eyes and be thrown into Gei-Hinnom,
48 where their worm does not die,
and the fire is not quenched.[Mark 9:48 Isaiah 66:24]]
1. In the first reading, Moses responds to Joshua’s concern by saying: “Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!” As baptized Catholics, the Holy Spirit dwells in each one of us. In what ways have you experienced the power of the Holy Spirit? What steps can you take to allow a deeper work of the Holy Spirit in your life?
2. The Responsorial Psalm reminds us that rather than being burdensome: “The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart,” as well as “refreshing the soul,” “giving wisdom to the simple,” and “enduring forever.” In what ways is this contrary to the current thinking in our culture? Where in your life have you been surprised when, by following God’s precepts instead of your own desires, you experienced joy, refreshment, and wisdom?
3. St. James, in the second reading, expresses his concern for justice and condemns the greedy behavior of those who would cheat, demean, or dehumanize others for their own benefit. This theme is also of great concern to Pope Francis. What are some ways we as Catholics could do more to reach out to those who suffer injustice and are alienated? How can we do more to promote a “culture of life” in our country?
4. In the first part of the Gospel, Jesus admonishes his disciples (and us) to be tolerant of all who serve him and believe in his name: “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. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.” Could these words of Jesus be applied to how we view and treat Christians who are not Catholic? If so, what are some steps we can take as Catholics to foster unity with other Christians?
5. In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus strongly warns us of the consequences of behavior (words, actions, omissions) that might cause others to sin. Why do you think this applies especially to our behavior as Christians? What are some steps you can take to improve the kind of example and model you are as a Christian to your family, neighbors, friends, or co-workers?
6. The meditation reminds us that Pope Francis “has urged us to go out and reach individuals in their needs.” It goes on to quote these words of his: “We cannot keep ourselves shut up in parishes, in our communities, when so many people are waiting for the Gospel.” In light of these words, do you believe that God desires to speak his word to others through you? If not, why not? If so, in what ways?
7. Take some time now to pray and ask the Lord for the grace to say yes, in a deeper way, to his call to be his witness, voice, hands, and feet to our broken and fallen world. Use the prayer at the end of the meditation as the starting point.“Here I am, Lord! Send me!” Amen!
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