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.
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.
26th Sunday in Ordinary Time
September 30, 2018
Mark 9, 38-43, 45, 47-48
The Gospel this coming week is a surprising parallel story in which an equally arrogant group of disciples who are jealous of their power want to remain in control. They want to decide who is saved and who is not, who is in and who is out. But it will not be that way with Jesus. By allowing someone outside the group to have power, God regains control – losing control is the issue – for in giving up control and power, we open ourselves to the power outside us and we stop trying to determine who really has it and who does not. This Gospel calls the question when it comes to power and control leaving us to wonder about the silliness of jealousy, it’s power in our lives and the way it distracts us from what really matters. “Remember this. Anyone who gives you a drink of water because you belong to Christ will certainly receive their rewards.” That includes this unnamed exorcist in Mark’s gospel who was not one of the “real” disciples. “Would that all the Lord’s people were prophets” we hear in the first reading. Would that you and I were a little less interested in quarrels over control and power and a little more interested in the thirsty. Then God would certainly have his way.
Fr. Tom Boyer