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Reflections
for Sunday, September 27, 2009
What wonderful readings we have today that speak so much about how God
works in our world! Far too often our ideas of God are too small and too
limited. We can get possessive of our faith and not believe that others
have the same faith that we have. We can try to limit the workings of
God.
The first reading today, from the Book of Numbers, describes how the
Spirit of God came upon other besides Moses—even on those who had not gone
out to the tent. The first thing that we notice is that religion can
reject everything that does not follow the rules - and God does not act that
way. Instead, God gives the Spirit abundantly and even outside of our
rules.
The Gospel today, from Saint Mark, teaches the same lesson: God works as
God wants. Anyone is free to invoke the name of Jesus, even those who do
not follow the way of Jesus. How easily we Christians can get offended by
those who use the name of Jesus in ways that we are not comfortable with.
We are often at odds with one another among the groups that claim to follow
the Lord Jesus.
Sometimes others who follow Christ get upset with us Catholics because we
do not allow them to receive communion freely in our Churches. Sometimes I
have had this text used to pressure me to think that such open communion is
fine. Yet it is clear from this text that the one who was driving out
demons in the name of Jesus was not trying to become part of the followers
of Christ.
Communion in the early Church always had great importance. Communion
means a common belief, not just receiving the consecrated body and blood of
the Lord. When we all have a common belief, then there is communion among
us as well as the possibility of receiving the consecrated body and blood
of our Lord.
Let us pray today that we can have a deep communion of belief among all
who follow the Lord Jesus Christ and all who invoke His holy Name. Let us
pray that the lack of sharing in the consecrated body and blood of the Lord
will keep us aware of the need to continue our efforts to be one. Let us
pray that we will always try to recognize the Spirit of the Lord at work
wherever that Spirit is.
Readings of the day:
First Reading:
Second Reading:
Gospel:
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Reflections are available for the following Sundays:
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