Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Title

Brethren Irregularly Filled with the Spirit

Outline

I grew up out devoted to Jesus but outside the Catholic Church

I would eventually learn that there was a fulness in the Catholic Church that I needed, but during those 67 years I also had a significant ministry and some deep experiences of God

In 1980 as a relatively new Episcopal priest I went to Steubenville for the National Catholic Charismatic Conference for Priests and Deacons - that was where I learned experimentally that Catholic priests and deacons were my brothers. But the roughly 80 Episcopalians there were there in part because the main speaker was the Episcopalian Fr Terry Fulham. Catholic were learning at least something from us.

That brings me to the texts today

In Numbers we get irregular ordination

Moses had complained to God that he was exhausted and God responded by getting him to select 70 elders with whom he would share the spirit that was on Moses.

Think of Bishop Vasquez trying to pastor the diocese of Austin without any priests!

The sign that the spirit had come on the 70 was that they prophesied (perhaps ecstatic speech) - but two had missed the “ordination” event in the tent and yet had received the gift and received it in public so all knew about it.

Joshua in zeal for Moses thought Moses should forbid Eldad and Medad, but Moses in his humility (and perhaps relief) responds, “If only all the people of the LORD were prophets! If only the LORD would bestow his spirit on them!”

We should not regularize unusual events or ignore proper procedure, but we should also realize that God has his grave reasons for working outside of canon law and that is not a threat to us who came through regular channels

In the gospel we find an equally zealous apostle

John says, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

So there was someone who knew about Jesus and used the name of Jesus effectively, but was not part of the wider band of disciples

I understand that - most, perhaps all, of the demons I have dealt with were when I was not Catholic, not even approaching the Catholic Church, and knew the Bible and some experienced Protestants but not the Roman Rite

John tried to stop such things - that exorcist was not part of the true church

Jesus responds in effect, “He may be separated from us, but ‘whoever is not against us is for us.’” Today we would call him one of the separated brethren.

And then Jesus says, “He will get his reward from God” and “Do not turn this little one from me or you will incur judgment.”

Sisters, these narratives can help us

First, we should appreciate the fulness that we have in the Church and enter more deeply into it rather than normalizing God’s exceptions - I have played catch-up ever since I entered the Church

Second, we should welcome and affirm those separated from us through whom God is working; this affirmation of God’s action in others is more likely to draw folk into the Church than condemnation

Thirdly, we should look for what we can learn from those gifted by God who are not yet in the Church. For instance, I grew up with Bible virtually flowing in my veins and later studied with great Protestant biblical scholars who were men of God. I have also learned from a Jewish Reformed rabbi who applied a knowledge of family to the church, and am now learning from a Protestant analysis of what went wrong with a number of megachurches - it is a warning to us. And I am learning about the issues with the iGen (those born 1995 and later) that would help me evangelize and then form them as needed - that includes all of my grandchildren.

The critical point is to have eyes open for where God is moving so that we do not turn any of his little ones from either the fullness of faith or the faith itself.

Readings

Catholic Daily Readings 9-26-2021: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

FIRST READING

Numbers 11:25–29

25 The LORD then came down in the cloud and spoke to him. Taking some of the spirit that was on Moses, he bestowed it on the seventy elders; and as the spirit came to rest on them, they prophesied but did not continue.

26 Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad, had remained in the camp, yet the spirit came to rest on them also. They too had been on the list, but had not gone out to the tent; and so they prophesied in the camp. 27 So, when a young man ran and reported to Moses, “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp,” 28 Joshua, son of Nun, who from his youth had been Moses’ aide, said, “My lord, Moses, stop them.” 29 But Moses answered him, “Are you jealous for my sake? If only all the people of the LORD were prophets! If only the LORD would bestow his spirit on them!”

Catholic Daily Readings 9-26-2021: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

RESPONSE

Psalm 19:9ab

9 The precepts of the LORD are right,

rejoicing the heart.

The command of the LORD is clear,

enlightening the eye.

PSALM

Psalm 19:8, 10, 12–14

8 The law of the LORD is perfect,

refreshing the soul.

The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,

giving wisdom to the simple.

10 The fear of the LORD is pure,

enduring forever.

The statutes of the LORD are true,

all of them just;

12 By them your servant is warned;

obeying them brings much reward.

13 Who can detect trespasses?

Cleanse me from my inadvertent sins.

14 Also from arrogant ones restrain your servant;

let them never control me.

Then shall I be blameless,

innocent of grave sin.

Catholic Daily Readings 9-26-2021: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SECOND READING

James 5:1–6

1 Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries. 2 Your wealth has rotted away, your clothes have become moth-eaten, 3 your gold and silver have corroded, and that corrosion will be a testimony against you; it will devour your flesh like a fire. You have stored up treasure for the last days. 4 Behold, the wages you withheld from the workers who harvested your fields are crying aloud, and the cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts. 5 You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. 6 You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.

Catholic Daily Readings 9-26-2021: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

John 17:17ab

17 Consecrate them in the truth. Your word is truth.

GOSPEL

Mark 9:38–43, 45, 47–48

38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” 39 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. 40 For whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

42 “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe [in me] to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.

45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.

47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, 48 where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’

Notes

Catholic Daily Readings 9-26-2021: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 26, 2021 | ORDINARY TIME

TWENTY-SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME

YEAR B | ROMAN MISSAL | LECTIONARY

First Reading Numbers 11:25–29

Response Psalm 19:9ab

Psalm Psalm 19:8, 10, 12–14

Second Reading James 5:1–6

Gospel Acclamation John 17:17ab

Gospel Mark 9:38–43, 45, 47–48

GREEN