John told Jesus about trying to stop a man, who was not a disciple, from casting out demons in Jesus’ name. Jesus responded, “Do not stop him. No one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.”
Sunday’s gospel begins with John tattling on a non-follower who was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. John admits to Jesus that he and the other disciples interfered to stop the man. Jesus’ response teaches his disciples not to box in his power. Jesus reasons that a person liberating another in his name cannot also speak evil of him. Jesus claims broad middle ground in this saying, “Whoever is not against us is for us.”
What experience of middle ground becoming common ground had you had?
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More from this week’s issue of Sunday By Sunday:
“Fifty years ago this fall the Second Vatican Council began its work of bringing the Catholic Church into the contemporary world. It called Catholics into solidarity with the afflicted, to the work of Catholic social teaching.
The council reclaimed the Church’s identity as the People of God who must actively participate in worship and whose baptisms call them to holiness. The Council named conscience the ultimate agent of moral discernment. It ended 400 years without middle ground between Catholics and Protestants…” Read the full issue here (pdf)
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