Sunday, September 29, 2024
The Book of Numbers gets its name from two censuses taken of the Hebrew people, one near the beginning and the other toward the end of their exodus from Egypt. It continues the book of Exodus’ narrative of the Israelites wandering through the wilderness for thirty-eight years on their way to the promised land. Containing legal ordinances, the book is a combination of history and law. Today’s Old Testament Reading is taken from Chapter 11. God bestowed His Spirit upon seventy elders of Israel, giving them the gift of prophecy. This shift from Moses, a singular prophet, to a broader community of prophets reflects God’s desire to build community and engage all His people in His mission. The passage emphasizes the importance of the Holy Spirit in the life of the community, empowering individuals and fostering unity and collective witness among them. The passage also recounts Moses’ aide’s jealousy of other elders’ gift of prophecy, revealing a tribal mindset of a social structure and a closed community.
In today’s Gospel Reading, we continue to read about the disciples’ struggles to understand the true meaning of Jesus’ teachings, for their human thoughts differ from God’s. Speaking for the disciples, John says: “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” 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.” (Mark 9:38-39). Here again, we witness human nature’s closed community tribal mindset.
As we close ourselves to boundaries beset by race, country, political affiliation, and even faith groups, we fail to recognize the good in people different from us; we are blinded to God’s Spirit at work in them. God’s grace is not limited to our man-made circles; how we look at the world is not how He looks at it.
Many around us are doing good, feeding the hungry, caring for the needy, and visiting the imprisoned. These are the works Jesus called His followers to do. Remember His words: “For whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.” (Matthew 12:50). We must recognize the Holy Spirit moving others to care for the needy and lift those on the margins. Let us withhold judgment and reject divisiveness, discord, and hostility undermining the Church’s efforts to unite God’s children and proclaim the Gospel. ” It is in this divided world that the Church is sent forth today to promote harmony and peace. In charity and truth she goes forth: in that charity which sees every person as a child of God, as a brother or sister of equal dignity, regardless of his or her social status, regardless of his or her race or religion; and in the truth which overcomes the slavery of falsehood and brings new freedom to mind and heart.” (Pope John Paul II, February 6, 1986).
Go in Peace to Love and Serve the Lord.