Word to the Wise
Monday, September 30, 2013 - Monday in the 26th Week in Ordinary Time
[Zech 8:1-8 and Luke 9:46-50]For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest. Then John said in reply, "Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company." Jesus said to him, "Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you."
The disciples had been arguing about who was more important among them. Jesus tells them that they must become as powerless as a child. The one who is least is greatest. Then John asks a question that shows he (and the others) still isn't "getting the message." His question concerns the control of the power of Jesus' name! In other words, somebody was "practicing exorcism without a license!" Jesus shows that he is not into controlling the power of his name, because that would restrict the preaching of the gospel! "Whoever is not against you is for you!"
Our Catholic Church struggles constantly with the problem of power and control. The effort to make sure that Jesus' message is preached in all its integrity is important, but the desire to control that message and the way in which it is preached can lead to authoritarian rule. We experience this all the way from the smallest parish organization to the Roman curia! Pope Francis' effort to deal with this is presently attracting much attention because of the "commission of Cardinals" that he has established to help him "reform the curia." Could one dare to hope that bishops of dioceses and pastors of parishes and leaders of organizations in the church might imitate his example? I wonder if we tend to pay less attention to the "deposit of faith" than we do to the "bank" that holds it and guards it! AMEN