Sunday 29 September 2024 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Numbers 11:25-29
The Lord came down in the Cloud. He spoke with Moses, but took some of the spirit that was on him and put it on the seventy elders. When the spirit came on them they prophesied, but not again.
Two men had stayed back in the camp; one was called Eldad and the other Medad. The spirit came down on them; though they had not gone to the Tent, their names were enrolled among the rest. These began to prophesy in the camp. The young man ran to tell this to Moses, ‘Look,’ he said, ‘Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.’ Then said Joshua the son of Nun, who had served Moses from his youth, ‘My Lord Moses, stop them!’ Moses answered him, ‘Are you jealous on my account? If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all!’
Psalm 18 The precepts of the Lord gladden the heart.
James 5:1-6
An answer for the rich. Start crying, weep for the miseries that are coming to you. Your wealth is all rotting, your clothes are all eaten up by moths. All your gold and your silver are corroding away, and the same corrosion will be your own sentence, and eat into your body. It was a burning fire that you stored up as your treasure for the last days. Labourers mowed your fields, and you cheated them – listen to the wages that you kept back, calling out; realise that the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. On earth you have had a life of comfort and luxury; in the time of slaughter you went on eating to your heart’s content. It was you who condemned the innocent and killed them; they offered you no resistance.
Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48
John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.
‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.’
Reflection:
The Gospel we hear today highlights two important lessons for our spiritual journey: first, the call to inclusivity in our faith, and second, the seriousness with which we must live our option for God. These teachings challenge us to reflect on how we live out our Christian mission and to choose God as the focus of our lives.
The Story of the Outsider:
In the first part of the Gospel, the disciple John approaches Jesus with a concern: they saw someone driving out demons in Jesus’ name but stopped him because he was not one of them. Jesus’ response is direct and surprising—He says, “Do not stop him… Whoever is not against us is for us.” The evangelist Mark would have recognised the parrallel with the Moses story of Eldad and Medad. In brining this into his Gospel he repeats to the early Christian community the important of recognising that the Spirit of God moves according to her own wisdom, and is not resricted to the traditions of one culture or religion.
This reminds us of the broadness of God’s mission. We often feel tempted to create divisions between “insiders” and “outsiders,” especially when we think others are not following the rules we know. But here, Jesus warns us against restricting the work of God based on our own narrow ideas of who belongs. The passage challenges us to be open-hearted and inclusive, recognizing that God’s grace can work through others who may not belong to our specific group.
It’s a call to embrace diversity in the Church and in the world. We should welcome all who seek to do good, for anyone working in the name of Christ shares in the mission of the Kingdom. Our task is not to exclude, but to foster a spirit of unity and cooperation in spreading the Gospel.
The Story of the Bridge Builder
There once was a village that sat on one side of a wide river. The villagers lived simple lives, but they never crossed the river because they believed that the people on the other side were different and had nothing in common with them. They considered themselves the true keepers of the land and thought the others were not worthy.
Imagine this the aisle in the middle of the church is the river. You on one side are one village. You on the other side you are different from them. Have a look, recognise those you see as diffrent or not adhering to your customs or traditions and laws.
One day, a young man named Daniel from the village decided to explore. To the surprise of the elders, he built a bridge and crossed the river. On the other side, he found people who were welcoming, kind, and hard-working—just like his own village. He quickly realized that the differences they had feared were only superficial. These people had families, shared values, and wanted to live in peace.
When Daniel returned, the villagers scolded him for going to the other side, saying, “They are not like us!” But Daniel insisted, “They are not against us—they are with us.” Slowly, more villagers crossed the bridge and discovered the same. Soon, both sides began working together, sharing resources, and building a stronger community.
Years later, when a flood threatened to destroy the village, it was the bridge Daniel had built that saved them all. The people on both sides of the river worked together to protect each other and rebuild what was lost.
This story echoes the message of today’s Gospel: the need to break down the walls that divide us, recognize the goodness in others, and work together for the greater good. Just as Daniel built a bridge and fostered unity, we are called to be open and inclusive, knowing that God’s work is not limited to any one group. Similarly, small acts like building that bridge—just like offering a cup of water in Jesus’ name—can have life-saving, transformative power.
Radical Commitment to Holiness:
In the second part of the Gospel, Jesus uses striking and extreme language to convey the seriousness of making the One God the priority of our lives. He speaks of cutting off a hand, foot, or plucking out an eye if they get in the way of us putting God first. Sin is when we do not put the values of our Christian heritage first. While Jesus isn’t advocating self-harm, He is using these hyperboles to show us the radical nature of discipleship.
The core message is that nothing should stand in the way of our relationship with God.
What Must We “Cut Off”?
In our own lives, what are the things that need to be “cut off” or removed so we can live in greater holiness?
Perhaps it relates to the first story.
1 John 4:20 “We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well.…
Our Witness to the World:
Finally, Jesus reminds us that even the smallest act of kindness done in His name, such as giving a cup of water, will not go unrewarded. This shows us that our witness to the world is not only in the grand gestures but also in the simple, everyday actions of love and mercy. Including others is a simple but profound Christian guesture.
Matthew 5:43–44 says, “But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you”
As Christians, we are called to reflect Christ in all we do. Every act of charity, no matter how small, is a participation in God’s Kingdom. Our faith should be evident in how we treat others, especially those who are marginalized, just as we should be vigilant in keeping our focus on our heavenly Father in our lives.
As we gather around the table of the Lord today, let us ask for the grace to be more inclusive in our ministry and relationships, welcoming all who work for good. May we give witness to the Gospel through our words and actions, always reflecting the heart of Christ in our lives.