How many of you have heard the doorbell ring, get up from your comfortable recliner, open the door only to find Jehovah’s Witnesses trying to share their faith with you? And how many of us have heard someone knocking on our car window who wants to give us a booklet to read about salvation. And how many times do we call them names or don’t even open the door or window? And yet if we understand today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells us that whoever is not against us is for us? They may be Jehovah’s Witnesses, but they are our brothers and sisters in Christ. And if we are the one true church and we are baptized Christians, why are we not doing more evangelizing ourselves? We criticize them because they are doing something we are not willing to do ourselves. If we did, our church would be overflowing. How many of us are willing to go ring doorbells and share the Good News of Jesus Christ to those who answer their door.
Jesus’ disciples were no different. John was upset that someone who was not of their group had been seen driving out demons in Jesus’ name. In Mark’s Gospel, John says that the man driving out demons was not following “US”. He didn’t say, not following Jesus. He said not following “US”. Even at that early time, their was an identity established, that the disciples felt that they had authority and only anyone acting under their authority could do Jesus’ work.
Yet Jesus’ answer to them is quite revealing. It is reminiscent of the Bible story that we first heard today from Leviticus. Even in Moses’ time, the idea of exclusiveness was there. The group of chosen men who went with Moses to the mountain, were upset because someone who was not one of them was doing prophecy. Moses’ reply to them was “Stop being so jealous that outsiders can prophesy as well as you. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could be a prophet and that God’s spirit could descend on everyone!
Jesus’ reply to the disciples echoes these very words of Moses: Don’t stop this man from casting out devils in my name. If he is casting them out in my name, then he is my friend and will not be able to speak badly of me. Whoever is not against us, is for us.”
In any case, what Jesus seems to be stressing here is that ”there is no place for exclusivity among those who invoke the name of Jesus.” Jesus finishes by saying that anyone who does a good deed in his name will be rewarded for it. These words should certainly help us in our understanding of other Christian faiths in relation to our own Apostolic Catholic faith.
The second part of the readings today return to the teachings of Jesus. The Gospel especially is worded quite strongly. Jesus is trying to make a point here. However, before we get to that, Jesus first talks about scandal, especially the scandal of children or vulnerable people. He uses strong words when it comes to talking about sin. Jesus uses somewhat of an exaggeration here to make his point. The person who scandalizes might better have a millstone tied to his neck and be thrown into the sea.
Then Jesus goes on with even greater sacrifices. Jesus’ thought moves from ‘scandal of another’, to personal things which can cause one to sin. If any part of the body leads one to sin, cut it off. While he does not mean this literally, we can think of times when it would be literal. For example many people have had amputations when a limb’s disease threatened the whole body. In order to live there had to be an amputation. In this context, Jesus is reiterating what the new kingdom will be like, and sin is not acceptable in the kingdom He has prepared for us. We must avoid things which lead us to sin, just as we must avoid leading others into sin by our own actions or words.
In today’s Second Reading by St. James, he reminds us that one of the greatest obstacles to entering the kingdom is riches. Some people often mis-quote the Bible as saying, “that money is the root of all evil?” However, nowhere in the Bible does it say - that money is the root of all evil. What the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 is this:
“The LOVE of money is the root of all evils and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds.”
Money is not the root of all evil, it is people's love and craving for money that is the root of all evil. The problem is not with the money, the problem is in a person's desire for wealth.
The Bible condemns the abuse of wealth. Abuse of wealth can take three forms: a) how one acquires it, b) how one uses it, and c) how one invests one's heart in it.
The first form of abuse is seen in those who exploit the poor to get rich. Apparently, the rich who are condemned by James belong to this class. As the passage goes on to make clear:
“Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. ... You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.” (James 5:4-6)
Wealth is good - when one does clean and honest hard work to earn it. When one gets it through dishonesty and fraud, then the wealth has been abused. This is what James is condemning.
The second form of abuse is found in those who may have gotten their wealth by honest means but who use the wealth just to indulge themselves. Jesus gives us an example of this form of abuse in the Parable of the Rich Fool who laid up his wealth and said to his soul,
"Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry." But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" (Luke 12:19-20)
Wealth, like every other blessing from God, is given to us in TRUST so that we may serve God with it. God does not give us His blessings for our self-gratification. And this includes wealth. To use wealth simply for self-indulgence is an abuse of wealth and a sin.
Finally, there are those who see wealth as the most important thing in life. They trust in their wealth for security rather than God. For such people wealth has become another god. It is of such people that Jesus gave the teaching that "No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth" (Luke 16:13). Materialism and the Christian faith cannot go together, it is either the one or the other.
The Bible is not saying it is bad to be rich or to have nice things – it is saying that if you are well off, you need to help those who are not well off. Riches per se, should not be the goal in our life. If it does become one, as James, says, you better enjoy your riches and happiness here, because it won’t be waiting for you later. This reminds me of the story of the wealthy lady who died and went to heaven. As Peter greeted her, they got into the heaven-mobile and started down the streets of gold. Seeing mansion after mansion, the old lady began to get excited. As Peter continued driving, the houses became smaller and smaller until they finally came upon an old shack that was falling down. This is your new home. Disappointed the old lady exclaimed, there must be some mistake- apparently you do not know who I am. I am not used to living like this. Peter answered, I know very well who you are. However with what you shared from all your wealth on earth, this is your reward here in heaven!
Today’s readings have many themes and much for us to think about. How can we have a healthy attitude toward sin? Begin to look at those things in our lives which are unhealthy and cause us the most problems. We are all inclined to one sin or another. We don’t have to pluck an eye or cut off an arm or a leg, but we do have to cut off or at least try to remove those things which lead us to sin, whether it be alcohol, internet porn, too much ambition at work to get ahead and earn more money while sacrificing your family, too great a love for money. None of these things will help us get into God’s kingdom, so we must work on it in a healthy, positive way. As I often instruct people who share their problems with me- Make a list of the obstacles that keep you away from God. Then start numbering them from the greatest obstacle to the smallest. Now, tackle one at a time. If we try to tackle all of them together, we may become overwhelmed and discouraged. But one at a time, we can see ourselves making progress. And that is all that Jesus asks us to do- To continually grow in the faith. We can do it – with a little help from those who love us. Jesus loves you. And because of the love Jesus has for each of us, has sent the Holy Spirit to help us.
Come Holy Spirit, and be our Strength and our Guide.
Jesus’ disciples were no different. John was upset that someone who was not of their group had been seen driving out demons in Jesus’ name. In Mark’s Gospel, John says that the man driving out demons was not following “US”. He didn’t say, not following Jesus. He said not following “US”. Even at that early time, their was an identity established, that the disciples felt that they had authority and only anyone acting under their authority could do Jesus’ work.
Yet Jesus’ answer to them is quite revealing. It is reminiscent of the Bible story that we first heard today from Leviticus. Even in Moses’ time, the idea of exclusiveness was there. The group of chosen men who went with Moses to the mountain, were upset because someone who was not one of them was doing prophecy. Moses’ reply to them was “Stop being so jealous that outsiders can prophesy as well as you. Wouldn’t it be great if everyone could be a prophet and that God’s spirit could descend on everyone!
Jesus’ reply to the disciples echoes these very words of Moses: Don’t stop this man from casting out devils in my name. If he is casting them out in my name, then he is my friend and will not be able to speak badly of me. Whoever is not against us, is for us.”
In any case, what Jesus seems to be stressing here is that ”there is no place for exclusivity among those who invoke the name of Jesus.” Jesus finishes by saying that anyone who does a good deed in his name will be rewarded for it. These words should certainly help us in our understanding of other Christian faiths in relation to our own Apostolic Catholic faith.
The second part of the readings today return to the teachings of Jesus. The Gospel especially is worded quite strongly. Jesus is trying to make a point here. However, before we get to that, Jesus first talks about scandal, especially the scandal of children or vulnerable people. He uses strong words when it comes to talking about sin. Jesus uses somewhat of an exaggeration here to make his point. The person who scandalizes might better have a millstone tied to his neck and be thrown into the sea.
Then Jesus goes on with even greater sacrifices. Jesus’ thought moves from ‘scandal of another’, to personal things which can cause one to sin. If any part of the body leads one to sin, cut it off. While he does not mean this literally, we can think of times when it would be literal. For example many people have had amputations when a limb’s disease threatened the whole body. In order to live there had to be an amputation. In this context, Jesus is reiterating what the new kingdom will be like, and sin is not acceptable in the kingdom He has prepared for us. We must avoid things which lead us to sin, just as we must avoid leading others into sin by our own actions or words.
In today’s Second Reading by St. James, he reminds us that one of the greatest obstacles to entering the kingdom is riches. Some people often mis-quote the Bible as saying, “that money is the root of all evil?” However, nowhere in the Bible does it say - that money is the root of all evil. What the Bible says in 1 Timothy 6:10 is this:
“The LOVE of money is the root of all evils and there are some who, pursuing it, have wandered away from the faith and so given their souls any number of fatal wounds.”
Money is not the root of all evil, it is people's love and craving for money that is the root of all evil. The problem is not with the money, the problem is in a person's desire for wealth.
The Bible condemns the abuse of wealth. Abuse of wealth can take three forms: a) how one acquires it, b) how one uses it, and c) how one invests one's heart in it.
The first form of abuse is seen in those who exploit the poor to get rich. Apparently, the rich who are condemned by James belong to this class. As the passage goes on to make clear:
“Listen! The wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. ... You have condemned and murdered the righteous one, who does not resist you.” (James 5:4-6)
Wealth is good - when one does clean and honest hard work to earn it. When one gets it through dishonesty and fraud, then the wealth has been abused. This is what James is condemning.
The second form of abuse is found in those who may have gotten their wealth by honest means but who use the wealth just to indulge themselves. Jesus gives us an example of this form of abuse in the Parable of the Rich Fool who laid up his wealth and said to his soul,
"Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry." But God said to him, "You fool! This very night your life is being demanded of you. And the things you have prepared, whose will they be?" (Luke 12:19-20)
Wealth, like every other blessing from God, is given to us in TRUST so that we may serve God with it. God does not give us His blessings for our self-gratification. And this includes wealth. To use wealth simply for self-indulgence is an abuse of wealth and a sin.
Finally, there are those who see wealth as the most important thing in life. They trust in their wealth for security rather than God. For such people wealth has become another god. It is of such people that Jesus gave the teaching that "No slave can serve two masters; for a slave will either hate the one and love the other, or be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth" (Luke 16:13). Materialism and the Christian faith cannot go together, it is either the one or the other.
The Bible is not saying it is bad to be rich or to have nice things – it is saying that if you are well off, you need to help those who are not well off. Riches per se, should not be the goal in our life. If it does become one, as James, says, you better enjoy your riches and happiness here, because it won’t be waiting for you later. This reminds me of the story of the wealthy lady who died and went to heaven. As Peter greeted her, they got into the heaven-mobile and started down the streets of gold. Seeing mansion after mansion, the old lady began to get excited. As Peter continued driving, the houses became smaller and smaller until they finally came upon an old shack that was falling down. This is your new home. Disappointed the old lady exclaimed, there must be some mistake- apparently you do not know who I am. I am not used to living like this. Peter answered, I know very well who you are. However with what you shared from all your wealth on earth, this is your reward here in heaven!
Today’s readings have many themes and much for us to think about. How can we have a healthy attitude toward sin? Begin to look at those things in our lives which are unhealthy and cause us the most problems. We are all inclined to one sin or another. We don’t have to pluck an eye or cut off an arm or a leg, but we do have to cut off or at least try to remove those things which lead us to sin, whether it be alcohol, internet porn, too much ambition at work to get ahead and earn more money while sacrificing your family, too great a love for money. None of these things will help us get into God’s kingdom, so we must work on it in a healthy, positive way. As I often instruct people who share their problems with me- Make a list of the obstacles that keep you away from God. Then start numbering them from the greatest obstacle to the smallest. Now, tackle one at a time. If we try to tackle all of them together, we may become overwhelmed and discouraged. But one at a time, we can see ourselves making progress. And that is all that Jesus asks us to do- To continually grow in the faith. We can do it – with a little help from those who love us. Jesus loves you. And because of the love Jesus has for each of us, has sent the Holy Spirit to help us.
Come Holy Spirit, and be our Strength and our Guide.
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