THE WORD BECAME FLESH

Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time, 2022

Jams 4:13-17

Ps 49

Mark 9:38-40

Memorial of St. Polycarp

If the Lord wills…

Dear friends in Christ, today we celebrate the memorial of St Polycarp. He was the bishop of Smyrna and a friend of St Ignatius of Antioch. He was one of those who faithfully bore witness to the faith of the early Christians and the early stages of the development of doctrine. He was martyred by being burnt to death in the stadium.

Today’s First Reading (James 4:13-17) is an invitation to rely more on divine will than on human plans alone. Man may propose, but only God knows which of the plans will eventually see the light of day. According to St James, “You do not know about tomorrow. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes.” The length of human life on earth is very uncertain. The future lies before us but only God knows where we shall be. No one can add to his or her life and so, it all belongs to God. Even in his agony, Jesus trusted himself to the Father, ‘not mine, but your will be done.’

In the Gospel (Mark 9:38-40) the disciples were jealous for their master and were very proud of their action in which they had stopped someone from working miracles in the name of Jesus. Just two days ago, we read of how a man brought his child to Jesus, and in his absence the disciples could not heal him, now they are trying to stop someone else from using the name of Jesus to work a miracle. According to John, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.” These disciples are protecting the ministry of their master. We often get into the same shoes, trying to protect our offices and ministries. Jesus however told them not to claim any franchise but to count it as an advantage that anyone who works miracles in his name will not immediately turn against him.

Sometimes, Christians get into unnecessary arguments that do not help their faith just to maintain certain positions. Some of the dividing lines in families do not exist at all and same with many communities, yet people hold on tenaciously to their positions and stories. Examine your position on matters— do they really help the proclamation of the gospel or have you become a hindrance to the work of evangelisation?

Let us pray: Lord, we come to you, grant us your grace to welcome your gifts in others and so promote your kingdom always. Amen. 

+Remain blessed