From the responsorial psalm: “Yet in no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God; Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough to remain alive always and not see destruction. Blessed are the poor in spirit; the Kingdom of heaven is theirs!”
A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark (Mk 9:38-40)
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “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. For whoever is not against us is for us.”
Jesus addresses a question from John, who is concerned at seeing someone exorcising demons in Jesus’ name. John sees a cause for division even among those who call on the name of Christ. Jesus broadens John’s perspective on discipleship and what it means to do good in the eyes of the Lord. Now, as in Jesus’ time, it is easy to find causes for division, subdivision, and fragmentation—even to the point of separation. Yet, Jesus reminds John what unity means in terms of relationship to one another. Jesus does not say to John, “Whoever is not against me is for me.” Rather, he brings the disciples into relationship—”us”—just as he is in relationship with his Father. Not a bond we can form on our own, the Holy Spirit unites us in the love between the Father and the Son.
God, help me become more and more aware of the relationship that the risen Christ brings me into with you. The distortion and perversion of the words of Jesus are a temptation the evil one constantly presents, as if he is saying, “Whoever is not us is against us.” In the recognition of my own shortcomings and in the desire to do your will, give me the grace to do what I myself don’t have the power to do. In the words “For whoever is not against us is for us,” let me call to mind throughout the day that you, Lord, are over all and in all, binding me with others to you through your love and for the sake of your glory.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.