Wednesday, May 22, 2002
7th Week in Ordinary Time
1st Reading: James 4:13-17
Gospel: Mk 9:38-40
John said to Jesus, "Master, we saw someone who drove out demons
by calling upon your name, and we tried to forbid him because he does
not belong to our group." Jesus answered, "Do not forbid him,
for no one who works a miracle in my name can soon after speak evil of
me. For whoever is not against us is for us."
Commentary
Following Jesus' teachings, everybody is entitled to do apostolic work and contribute to the common good. His disciples thought that only they could perform miracles and preach to the crowd; they tried to prevent others from taking "their clients." They considered themselves not as servants of the cause of Kingdom but owners of that cause. It was a wrong perception. The cause of the Kingdom of God is the cause of the whole humanity. In the same way nowadays, outside the Catholic Church, the Church of the apostles, different Christian denominations do apostolic work. This evangelization outside the Church, at times against the Church, offers us a challenge and a call to reform. How can we condemn those who by their missionary action allow many people to meet Jesus Christ in fervent and welcoming communities?