Disciple John complaints that someone was doing healing work in Jesus’ name and
‘he is not one of us’ or a disciple; he is a stranger, an outsider. So indignant, the
disciples tried to stop him, thinking isn’t it our privilege to do such work in Jesus’
name? Jesus says, the one who is not against us is for us! Group thinking [noninclusive,
discriminatory] has been a problem in Christian churches, one group
considering itself superior to another group, a divisive thinking, we and they!
Isolationist, group mentality is often a place of anger, hate, suspicion of the other; it
undermines the work of the kingdom of God to bring joy, peace through love. Group
thinking within the church is contrary to the meaning of being catholic; catholic means
a heart that embraces the whole world in Jesus name, to mend, to heal. Christ and the
working of the Spirit goes beyond the church community. Spirit works through many
whose faith is unknown to us. We the church is a sacrament, a living sign to the world
and our presence inspires non-christians in ways only God knows. Christian life is a
witness for others to come to know and love God. God does his work through
whomever he wishes!
Jesus talks about people, systems that cause scandal to the little ones, who believe in
Jesus. Scandal is stumbling block, like a large stone in the way that causes one to trip
and fall. Is my life a stumbling block for others to come to know Jesus? The abuse
scandal in church destroyed many lives and people’s faith. St. James says even idle,
unproductive wealth or hoarding wealth is a scandal; hardened, uncaring or fattened
[selfish] heart is a counter sign to the kingdom of God and it saddens the Spirit.
Proverbs say that a person’s arrogance, display of power and wealth is a scandal to
others, a wall between oneself and others. Examine if your words and actions prevent
others from fulfilling God’s will. Such behavior should be cast into the sea or drown
sinful ways before they drown you!
Spiritual writer Robert Wicks says, ‘much of what we face that we find dark and
difficult, unfortunately, is part of our own doing in this world’. Yoda the wisdom figure or
Jedi Master makes this point in the movie The Empire Strikes Back. Yoda urged Luke
Skywalker, the young man who was his disciple, to enter a cave that seemed to
emanate danger and fear. When Luke asked Master Yoda, ‘what is in there?’ his simple
response was, ‘only what you take with you’. The same with us as we enter the cave of
prayer and meditation. We are faced with the demons [stumbling blocks] inside us and
they could be: Lack of self-acceptance, dishonesty, intolerance of others, suppressed
negative feelings, unfinished business with family and friends, addictions, failure to
take care of oneself, lack of meaning in life, greed, unreasonable expectations of self
and others, unresolved anger, unhealthy self-involvement in things, unable to
experience quiet or openness in prayer, resistance to change. In a humorous way
Jesus says cut off eyes, feet and hand or the root causes of sin or let free the demons,
before life ends in Gehenna or fiery place or comes to a meaningless end!
Let the fire of God’s love drive out all the demons inside us and our compassionate
living be a comfort, encouragement and hope for others; despite the feelings of
sadness, despair, carrying pain, or giving up on life, embrace love of God that heals,
enables us to trust. Respect and value the little ones and all who struggle in life. Give
everyone a chance to discover and recognize the pearl, goodness God has planted in
everyone, because, when Jesus says, ‘follow me’, it is following him to our fellow
beings!