SEPTEMBER 30TH, 2018: TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY OF THE YEAR Numbers 11:25-29
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 One of the most difficult things for people of faith to acknowledge is that we can’t put limits on God. It’s impossible to set boundaries in which God can work. He/she can only go so far, no further. Today’s first and third readings show how ridiculous it is to even attempt putting limits on an unlimited being.
Moses isn’t foolish enough to restrict Yahweh in our Numbers pericope. Though Eldad and Medad are among the spirit-filled 70 elders, they miss the formal “installation” ceremony. Yet they’re eventually heard prophesying alongside their 68 cohorts. Joshua, following recognized rules and regulations, wants to immediately stifle the pair. But Moses stops him. “Would that all the people of Yahweh were prophets,” he says. “Would that Yahweh might bestow his spirit on them all.” In other words, we should be expanding God’s actions, not restricting them.
Jesus encounters a similar “restrictor” in our gospel passage: John. “We saw someone driving out demons in your name,” he tells Jesus, “and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” But instead of presenting John a gold star for snitching, Jesus cuts him down. “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.” Then he teaches his followers how to approach such “grey” situations, “Whoever is not against us is for us.” Obviously, we follow a God who can work through anyone, any place, any time.
In a similar vein, the author of James reminds his readers that our God numbers the most unlikely people among his “righteous.” According to traditional, biblical Jewish theology, the community’s wealthy are the people most blessed by Yahweh. Yet those with riches are the individuals who most frequently break God’s laws, especially in their relationship with the poor. One can’t tell who’s righteous and who isn’t without a scorecard – Yahweh’s scorecard. The problem is that it’s a constantly changing scorecard. Just when we’re certain we know who’s in the game and who’s sitting on the bench, God switches players.
That seems to be why the gospel Jesus continues his “cut-down” of John by pointing out the role “insignificant” people play in making God effectively present in our lives. “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 or her reward.” Not only will those who actively work at making God’s kingdom present in our world receive their reward, but that reward applies to anyone who gives even the slightest help to those engaged in such work.
Of course, the opposite is also true. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better . . ..” Contrary to popular belief, “little ones” in this context doesn’t refer to physical children. It’s simply one of the gospel Jesus’ affectionate terms for his followers. Who would dare encourage someone to break faith with the risen Jesus? Can’t imagine the consequences.
Nothing or no one should stop us from making Jesus’ mentality our mentality, no matter how difficult that is to achieve. If we’re not careful, we could end up in Gehenna.
Jesus doesn’t seem to be referring to hell in this warning: most probably he’s employing Gehenna’s original meaning: the Jerusalem city dump. He presumes nothing’s worse – not even physical handicaps -than living in a place chock full of worms and constant fires. If we’re broadminded enough to accept Jesus’ outlook on those around us, we’ll actually live life to the fullest. After all, those who insist on limiting God eventually limit themselves at the same time.
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