Mark 9:38-41 (NABRE)
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” 39 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. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 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.”
What the disciple of Jesus Christ did here in our gospel for today was like the motion Joshua made concerning Eldad and Medad in Numbers 11:25-29. Eldad and Medad were also listed among the seventy elders whom Moses called to go out to the Tent of Meeting to receive the Spirit that GOD had given to Moses, the Spirit that prophesy. These two did not follow, but instead of going out to the tent, they stayed in the camp. And when Joshua learned that those two also received the Spirit and prophesied, he reported it to Moses and said, “My lord Moses, stop them.” Of course to his surprise, Moses, like Jesus, did not look on the schism but rather supported the plan of GOD that everyone might receive the Spirit that will enable anyone to perform mighty works for the glory of GOD. (Joel 2:28)
GOD vision a blessed community as David song in Psalms 133:1 implies. “How good and how pleasant it is, when brothers dwell together as one!” If we want to please GOD, we focus not on preaching or doing mighty works in His Jesus Name, but rather on loving others as Jesus has loved them. As there are actually seven things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to him and one of them is the one who sows discord among kindred. (Proverbs 6:16,19) Because HE knows that if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. (Mark 3:24-26) For we are still of the flesh if there is jealousy and rivalry among us because that is precisely an ordinary human way, living in this world and not with the Spirit above. (1 Corinthians 3:3)
That is the manifestation that we are living in the Holy Spirit of GOD; we show support and not compete anyone who preaches that Jesus is our Salvation, we rejoice instead of being jealous when someone can heal in the name of our Savior, we praise GOD that someone can deliver evil spirits in the name of our Lord Jesus, the Christ. St. Paul said in Philippians 1:18, “What difference does it make, as long as in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is being proclaimed? And in that I rejoice. Indeed I shall continue to rejoice.”
This is just telling us, “Mind your own business with the Lord.” We should aspire to live a tranquil life, to mind our own affairs, and to work on our own. (1 Thessalonians 4:11) Because there is the Spirit who read our thoughts and assess our actions. We should think that whatever they do, they do it also for the Lord and not with men, just like us. It says in 1 Corinthians 9:24, “Do you not know that the runners in the stadium all run in the race, but only one wins the prize? Run so as to win.” It’s true, RUN ONLY, and do not push others out because it will make you loose! But if you let others do their things too and make them win, yes, you will not be ‘The Winner’, yes!, but more than that you will be ‘The Hero’.
In GOD’s Eyes, the one who is greater is the servant, not the leader. Jesus exposed this in Luke 22:27. He asked this question, “For who is greater: the one seated at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one seated at the table? His answer is clear for He is among those ones who serve. It doesn’t matter to Him if you or the ‘others’ could prophesy in His Name, or drive out demons. He already knew who are his true disciples, and that is His business, not ours. (Matthew 7:21-23) He knew everything, so we have not to worry if everyone is talking or using His Name, because, in fact, it is just okay with Him.
Here is the true wisdom about jealousy. Jealousy is an attribute of GOD and it will be good if we use this attribute to become more loving to GOD and more serious in showing our own faithfulness to Him. The result is this: we will encourage everyone to do mighty works in His Name for we can make GOD, our love One surely happy for it. But jealousy if it is worldly and bitter with selfish ambition in our hearts, it will be the ditch that will separate us from GOD, which at the end will destroy us.
Let me conclude it with James 3:13-18 for our meditation. It says, “13 Who among you is wise and understanding? Let him show his works by a good life in the humility that comes from wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 Wisdom of this kind does not come down from above but is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every foul practice. 17 But the wisdom from above is first of all pure, then peaceable, gentle, compliant, full of mercy and good fruits, without inconstancy or insincerity. 18 And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace for those who cultivate peace.”
AMEN
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