An elitist posture can be dangerous in that others are excluded that ought to have access. There are those areas in which there will be limited access. Select positions such as a principal, CEO, or manager. At higher levels of sports, the arts, and civic leadership, there are limited positions available as well. Yet access ought to be granted for the most qualified. Artificial impositions regarding racial, ethnic, gender, or religious litmus tests are to be avoided. Regarding having access to God, worshipping as a community, and spreading his love and word, an elitist approach has no place.
Jesus addresses this concern in today’s Gospel from Mark. The Apostle John approaches Jesus to complain that someone who does not belong to their inner circle of disciples was healing in the name of Jesus. John even shared that they attempted to prevent this person from healing. Interesting that John was concerned that this man was not one of their number, as opposed to saying he was not a follower of Jesus. Also, this account appears shortly after John returns with Jesus to the failure of the disciples being able to exorcise the demon from the boy. This man was doing what those in the inner circle were not able to do. Jesus replied, “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. For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:39-40).
Jesus shared in words what he modeled in action throughout his life. The kingdom of God is open to all those who were willing to receive him and receive the invitation of his Father to enter into relationship. That relationship with him creates a spark that ignites a fire in those of his followers to reach out to teach, preach, cast out demons, heal, and be present to others in their need in his name. The kingdom of God is not for the select few, not for the frozen chosen, or not to be an elite club. The depth of active participation is only limited by one’s willingness to be engaged in participating in the life of Jesus.
May we have ears to hear Jesus’ universal message today, seek that which unifies us more than what divides us, and, embrace his message that “whoever is not against us is for us.” This can be translated outward beyond our tradition as Catholics. There is much we can do together with Christians of other denominations, people from other faith traditions, and people of good will with no faith tradition.
There are many who are in dire need of support in our communities, states, countries, and world. May we resist the us vs. them mentality that the enemy tempts us to entangle us in and resist the temptations of indifference or feeling like we have nothing to contribute. Jesus calls us to worship communally, as well as step away daily and sit at his feet and be alone with him. In that time of intimacy, corporately and individually, we are loved, healed, transformed little by little, and sent to share what we have received from Jesus to be his contemplatives in action.
Jesus, please meet us in our time of worship and prayer, help us to come to know you, our loving God and Father better, and his will for our lives. Help us to hear and meditate upon your living word, that we may know, experience, and be transformed by the love of the Holy Spirit. May we breathe, receive, rest, renew, and abide in your love so that we may think, speak, and act from this place of being known and loved by you. Then, in the name of Jesus, when we find ourselves in situations of division, polarization, and dehumanization, we may offer the invitation to experience the healing balm of understanding, dialogue, forgiveness, love and hopefully reconciliation.
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Photo: Different ocean than I am used to but the same light from the sun shining on the waters. View of the Pacific off the Santa Monica Pier.
Spiritual Stepping Stones 