September 25, 2009
Sunday Scripture
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time
BY FATHER DONALD DILGER
In one of the rare lines attributed to the apostle John, Mark describes the following episode. John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone expelling demons in your name. We tried to stop him, because he does not follow (you) with us.” If this is a historical event in the life of Jesus, it demonstrates not only Jesus popularity, but the fact that his very name was considered powerful against evil. Mark, however, may be speaking of his own time, the time when he was writing the gospel in the final third of the first Christian century. We know from Luke in Acts 19, that about the time when Mark was writing, Jewish exorcists, rivals to Christian exorcists, used the name of Jesus, and even the name of Paul, as a weapon in exorcisms. Mark’s story may reflect this later situation. The story in Acts 19 ends in embarrassment for the would-be exorcists.
Jesus rejects the attempt of John and others to prevent the rival exorcist from exorcising in the name of Jesus, “Do not prevent him. No one who does a deed of power in my name can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.” Mark goes even further in defending the unknown exorcist’s use of Jesus’ name to expel demons, “Anyone who gives you a cup of cold water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.” Mark is so insistent here that he depicts Jesus swearing to this “ecumenical” statement, (“Amen, I say to you . . .,”). Matthew will go beyond Mark’s theology in this matter. For Matthew, even those who do not know that they are honoring Jesus by giving someone a drink of water, will be rewarded, (“Lord, when did we see you . . . thirsty?”), Matthew 25:17.
Mark still has in mind the child who was part of the story in a previous episode, last Sunday’s gospel. He writes, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” The translation “causes . . . to sin” can be improved by saying, “Whoever scandalizes one of these little ones . . .” The words, “little ones who believe in me,” inclines us to interpret “the little ones” as adults. This is how Matthew 10:42-42 understands the term. They are the ones who in the eyes of society are the bottom rung of the ladder. If Mark has Christians in mind, they are the ones who are not part of the “elite” or upper crust who lawfully make the decisions which bind others, but only preach and do not practice, who remind others that we are called to be servants but themselves live like kings. Jesus condemns arrogance and pride but upholds humility which is actually practiced, not humility in words only.
Our gospel reading closes with statements which seem akin to some interpretations of Sharia law among Muslims. If taken literally these statements would justify mutilation of various body parts that are used to commit sin. For example, “If your hand causes you to sin, cut if off. If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better to be one-eyed in the kingdom of God that two-eyed in Gehenna.” Not even the most literalist interpreters of these statements accept them at face meaning. What do they mean? The original intention seems to have been a justification to exclude, shun or excommunicate members of the Christian community who have caused public scandal. An example is found in 1 Cor 5:3-5. When taken too literally in the history of the Church, these statements led to imprisonment, torture, murder, and massacre of Christians who fell into heresy or were merely suspected of it. What should these statements say to us? A Christian will make the greatest effort to avoid sin and occasions of sin.
This reading reflects the solution the Marcan Jesus offers on the issue of outsiders whose work benefits the Christian community. Moses was over-worked. He asked for relief. At the Lord’s direction Moses chose 70 elders to share his work. God then took some of Moses spirit and bestowed it on these elders. Two elders, Eldad and Medad, were absent at the bestowal of Moses’ spirit. Joshua, Moses’ assistant, was troubled because these two were ministering to the Israelites as prophets just as the other 68 elders. Joshua says to Moses, “Stop them!” Moses replies, “Are you jealous for my sake. I wish all the people were prophets, that the Lord bestow his Spirit on all the people.” As the gospel says, “Those who are not against us, are for us.”
James must have had some devastating experiences with rich members of his Christian communities. He rips into them with threats of rot, corrosion and fire. They seem to have defrauded workers of wages due to them, while they lived in luxury, “You have fattened your hearts for the day of (your) slaughter.” Not many homilists speak in such tones today. James’ ranting should not be taken as a condemnation of wealth or wealthy people. Jesus himself had wealthy friends who were of great help to him as they frequently are to the Church and to the poor. James speaks of wealth gained by defrauding the poor.