A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark (9:38-40)
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.”
Reflection:
A person was preaching in the name of Jesus and the apostles wanted to stop him. Jesus simply told them to let him act. What was there in that person, whose name or age we don’t know? We know nothing about him and yet he did good deeds. He was a simple, ordinary person. We can compare that person with one of us. A layman convinced of spreading the kingdom of Christ. We are a key piece in the church. But now in these times being Catholic means fighting against the current, if we want to be authentic. We try to be Catholic in our hearts, but we also have to be Catholic on the outside, sharing the riches of our faith with others.
That is why we have to live attentively, with our eyes alert to discover the good that the people around us can do.
When you see a young person helping an elderly couple with their household chores, when a person does a favour without expecting a reward, when you do good for others by avoiding any kind of harmful act towards your neighbour, then you will be sure that you are doing what Christ wants and does not prevent anyone: loving others without expecting to be loved but only by God.
This is what Jesus wants us to do every day. “Do good and avoid evil”, yes, but it is not about avoiding evil but transforming it into all kinds of good for those who are closest to you.
Let us keep in mind that there are many charisms in the world, some preach, others teach… but we all act with the same goal: the Church. Christ asks us: “do this and you will live.”
Dialogue with Christ
It is better if this dialogue is done spontaneously, from heart to heart.
Lord, help me to always live in a key of generous, selfless love. To have an attitude of giving, not seeking to be consoled, but to console; not seeking to be understood, but to understand; not expecting to be loved, but rather dedicating myself to loving. You know how difficult it is for my nature to live in a constant disposition of giving. Give me your grace to be able to make a good examination of conscience of all the good that I have failed to do.
Action of the day
Always work thinking that we are Church, not as individuals.
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