Monday, September 24, 2018

1Reflection for Sunday September 30, Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48



At that time, 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. 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.

"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
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Reflection:
A parish priest was told by a catechist that there was a Christian denomination who wants to use the parish chapel for their Christian worship. The catechist was expecting the priest to reject the request but to his surprise the humble and good-natured priest allowed the Christian denomination to use the chapel.

Months had passed by and this Christian group was always using the chapel for their worship. Along with it they had built a solid friendship with the parish priest anchored on his humility and tolerance.  After two years of friendship and communication the Christian group decided to convert to the Catholic faith and they were warmly welcomed to the church by the humble and tolerant priest.

In our gospel for this Sunday Jesus speaks about tolerance, humility and love for our fellowmen. When John told Jesus that they tried to prevent someone from driving out demons in His name. Perhaps John was expecting Jesus to condone his arrogant behavior. But Jesus rebuked John by saying, “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.” 

This rebuke of Jesus towards John echoes up to this time and it is not anymore addressed to John but it is now given to us. We are reminded by Jesus that if the cause that is being espoused by our fellowmen is also about him or if it’s for a good purpose. Let us be tolerant by all means.

We must always be tolerant, humble and loving to those who are not within the loop of our catholic faith.  Jesus at all times reminds us also that we must always live these virtues because this is one of the means that Jesus could become a living symbol in our lives.   

Sometimes it is so tempting to become proud and arrogant because of our status in life. Or because of the primacy our catholic faith which was founded by Jesus Himself. But how can we convince others to join our faith if we are domineering and arrogant? How can we highlight Jesus in our lives if we are always overbearing and superior? – Marino J. Dasmarinas

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