Wednesday Reflection: May 21, 2008

What an interesting combination of readings offered in today's liturgy. Truly a challenge to thinking "outside the box," the content of the two texts opens up a not so quickly grasped understanding of Jesus' teaching.
Catch the scene in the words of the Jewish-Christian leader, James. In the verses immediately preceding today's suggested verses, James warns his followers about the evil of judging others: "Who are you to judge your neighbor?" he asks. He likens judging others to a kind of arrogance, to a shade of boasting. Such arrogance or boasting is evil he says. Don't forget, he says, we are "like a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes."
Now consider Mark's words in today's gospel reading (9:38-40). Much is said in those three verses. Isn't there a bit of arrogance, a shade of boasting, in the apostle John's words as he grouses about "a man casting out demons in your name." That man obviously was not one of the in-crowd, not one of the disciples who daily walked and learned from Jesus what the kingdom of God was about. John implies that man did not know or accept all that Jesus had been teaching. You can hear John's mind: we don't do it that way! Does that sound familiar? Obviously that man was not of the full mindset that John would demand of full discipleship, of anyone who would attempt to drive out demons! Only the in-crowd was anointed to do such good! (Yes, John is getting it today!!!)
Here is the out of the box consideration: we cannot judge so quickly and categorically. Can we not ask this: Does each part of any totality equal that totality? Is a person who often speeds in violation of the traffic code but who serves the community as a volunteer firefighter, who delivers meals to a home bound senior citizen, who pays taxes regularly, is that person not a good citizen? I s the person who through laziness skips Mass on Sundays when "tired" not a good Catholic? Does living as a good citizen or Catholic mean that there is no lawbreaking or sin in that person's life?
To hear Jesus say "For he that is not against us is for us" challenges the disciples as well as us today. Hear what Jesus is saying. Hear the mercy, the understanding even the forgiveness woven to the words Jesus speaks. The challenge to us today in a church of commandments and laws is to see beyond the comfort, perhaps the arrogance and boasting, beyond the black and white.
Is not Jesus teaching tolerance, understanding and patience?
Now you see what a little rest can do to this blogger!!! Happy to be back for you.