Reflection on the 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Did you ever wonder what we would all look like if we took Jesus’ commands seriously? We might not have a hand or a foot or an eye! Or how would we feel if we knew another needed a drink, yet we turned away? In today’s readings the disciples, all feeling pretty good about their own healing work and driving out evil spirits, got a bit jealous over what they saw others doing.

But Jesus knows what the disciples are thinking about those others who are “driving out demons” and says to the disciples, “Don’t stop them, no one who does a good deed can speak evil of me … whoever is not against us is for us.”

Today’s readings could be called “A search for truth.” As you know, there are people who think they have what no one else has, the “Truth about God,” and only if you belonged to that religion could you be saved. There are people in all the churches who believe they have the right answer, the right path to God, the right of salvation.

A couple of guys came to my door recently telling me that 144,000 will be saved and I could join them. I asked if they could guarantee that I would be in that big group? They weren’t sure, so I sent them away! Easy answers to complex questions!

I believe the question for us to consider from today’s readings is “How are we doing God’s work?” Father Nerinckx reminded the Sisters, “Imitate the burning zeal of Jesus and Mary.” But we cannot imitate the work the early members did. So, what of us now? We are searching. We have adapted, we have connected in new ways as we experienced COVID, we have gotten less in number and are evaluating our mission work, we have worked together to understand new paths for the future and created new questions. Things never returned to normal for the disciples after Jesus’ resurrection, nor did they for us, nor should they.

In today’s readings, Eldad and Medad tried to frame the questions, Joshua got a bit pushy. James gives out some scathing words about wealth and poverty. Jesus added to the words a bit of hyperbole about cutting off that foot. How to put it all together?

We might reflect on how we could turn the readings around with a different focus and instead of the negativity we heard consider this question: How can we help each other come closer to God?

Christians have no monopoly on loving others. Wherever we do justice, there is God. Wherever I meet a stranger from another culture or race and welcome them, there is God. When we take time to really talk with each other, there is God.

Through our vows, through our Co-member promises, through our friendship with Loretto through the Circles or Link, what are we, you and I, called to be for others? What did Moses say in today’s reading?

Would that all of God’s people were prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit on them!

We are called to be a prophet: to proclaim in words and actions the Gospel of justice and be aware of the realities around us: Look at the poor standards of living in many countries, look at the poverty the homeless experience daily, look at the lack of freedom women have in many countries, look at the number of people dying daily in the Middle East, look at the “dissing” the migrants feel as they approach the U.S. borders. Our hope? That people can live as God intends them to live.

May God’s spirit be on us so that, as Loretto, we can trust the Spirit to prompt us to a deeper awareness of who we are as collaborators in mission and community. The potential for growth is endless. Let’s pray for each other to do it.