THEY AREN’T OF US
The Gospel-writer Mark describes an episode in which Jesus bluntly corrects a mistaken attitude of the Twelve. Don’t we also today need to listen to his warning?
The Twelve try to stop a man’s activity who «is casting out demons», that is to say, someone dedicated to freeing people from the evil that enslaves them, returning freedom and dignity to them. He’s a man concerned about doing good for people. He even acts «in Jesus’ name». But the Twelve observe something that, in their judgment, is very serious: «He’s not of us».
The Twelve don’t tolerate the liberating activity of someone who isn’t with them. To them it seems inadmissible. Only by means of the adhesion to their group should the salvation that Jesus offers be brought to fulfilment. They don’t focus on the good that that man is doing. They’re concerned that he’s not with them.
Jesus on the other hand roundly reproves his disciples’ attitude. Whoever develops a humanizing activity is already somehow bound to Jesus and his project of salvation. His followers shouldn’t monopolize God’s salvation.
The Twelve want to exercise control over the activity of someone who doesn’t belong to their group, since they see a rival in him. Jesus, who only seeks the good of the human being, sees in him an ally and friend: «Anyone who is not against us is for us».
The crisis that the Church is suffering today is an opportunity for Jesus’ followers to remember that our first task isn’t to successfully organize and develop our own religion, but to be ferment of a new humanity.
That’s why we don’t need to go around jealous, condemning positions or initiatives that don’t line up with our desires or religious schemes. It’s not good for Jesus’ Church to always be seeing enemies on all sides. He instead invites us to rejoice in what people and institutions far from the Church can be doing for a more human development of life. They are of us because they struggle for the same cause: a human being who is more worthy of her condition as child of God.
José Antonio Pagola
Translator: Fr. Jay VonHandorf
