Partners in God's Plan

Readings for the Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14
James 5:1-6
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
USCCB Link to the Readings

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Encouraging peaceful opposition to torture and to the abuse of basic human rights during the Pinochet dictatorship in Chile was common among the clergy and lay leaders of the Catholic Church, but we were surprised and grateful, as well, at the support and participation we received from non-religious organizations and movements, to whom we often offered space and protection in our parishes, schools, monasteries and retreat centers.

The Spirit of God has been given to us all, a Spirit that leads us forward to denounce injustice, just as the apostle James does today in our second reading, and to take the side of the poor and vulnerable, becoming strong advocates for the dignity and rights of those pushed to the edges of society, and channels of peace.

We are thus freed from selfishness and fear to make Jesus our model for serving and living among others in our society, as we see him do in today’s Gospel, showing a remarkable tolerance and greatness of spirit in allowing others to act in his name, and challenging his followers to a high level of commitment to Gospel values, by avoiding whatever is contrary to entering life in God’s Reign.

Those who do Jesus’ work without formally being his followers are for him, not against him, and those who give even a cup of water to those who belong to Christ will be rewarded. We can thus support and align ourselves with, as individuals and as a Church, all those who are confronting the power of evil today.

Notes on the Sunday Readings

First Reading
Numbers 11:25-29 — The approval of Eldad and Meldad’s prophetic charism by Moses, against the objections of Joshua, serves to protect the independence of the prophetic office, in both its ecstatic manifestation and in its messages of truth to power, from institutional control.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14 — These verses are a hymn to the Torah, or the Law of Moses, God’s gift to Israel, ending with the prayer of the inspired author to be as perfect, free of blemish and blame, as the Torah is.

Second Reading
James 5:1-6 — The apostle James of Jerusalem takes up the cause of the poor, attacking their oppression by the rich and powerful. In this way, he appeals to his community to make God’s option for the poor, revealed in Scripture and in the minds and hearts of the oppressed, their own.

Gospel
Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 — Jesus’ words here are a challenge to recognize and support those who, like the followers of Jesus themselves, are confronting the power of evil, and can thus be considered as supportive of our faith community.

Notes and commentary by Fr. Bob Mosher,
a member of the Missionary Society of Saint Columban.

Please pray for the missions.
May God bless you in all the ways you Go Forth…

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