Proclaim the Gospel to Every Creature

(Mark 16: 15)

The real Jesus, is the real answer to the real needs of the world!

Let us remember God’s Teaching, contained in His Word and
in doing so, remain close to Him. The following are only
examples illustrating how you can note the gems the
Holy Spirit highlights for your on-going reflection.

Whoever Is Not Against Us Is For Us

Ordinary 26      Year B           St. Mark 9: 38 to 48

1. Jesus said, “Whoever is not against us is for us”.

Our Reflection offers comments on this way of reasoning, at both the opening and conclusion. It is an easy saying of our Lord to remember, and good for us to apply.
We do, however, need to avoid being naïve. In fact, much harm is done when people
use it as an excuse to avoid discernment, and sorting out those who “get away with murder” by using it as a protective covering.

The future apostles were right to question the validity of the stranger driving out
demons. Our Lord did not deny that. But He would not entertain any sort of
exclusivity or sense of control His disciples were rather close to displaying. These
are the features which expose the fraudsters, the purveyors of false religion.

2. Jesus declares that the educated and highly trained are responsible for the proper education of the non-specialists. The greatest care must be taken to pass on the
true and authentic teaching He has provided, and to avoid anything misleading.

Such a status can attract all sorts of honours, benefits and “perks”. But the disciples
of Jesus, throughout the ages, are to shun anything of advantage to themselves and

focus entirely on their God-given mission. They must travel light, and not be addicted
to acquiring mere worldly goods.

3. Jesus taught much about “entering into life” and “entering the Kingdom of God.”

Both phrases mean the same: fullness of His Risen Life: that is our heritage. We are baptised into it but we can lose it if we do not stay close to Him, seek Him in every
way He taught us, and do not forget that we are called to be servants, not masters!
If we can get that firmly rooted in our minds then the teaching method of Jesus
about “cutting off,” and “plucking out” parts of the body will reveal their true
message. And that is, it is worth abandoning every temptation in order to retain our
place in, and our membership of the Household of God.

Let us pray for one another to be fully committed to an honest attempt to get the message of Jesus well and truly bedded into the centre of our mind and heart.

Shalom!