Listen

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone throwing demons out in your name, and we tried to stop him because he wasn’t following us.”

Jesus replied, “Don’t stop him. No one who does powerful acts in my name can quickly turn around and curse me. Whoever isn’t against us is for us. I assure you that whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will certainly be rewarded.”

Mark 9:38-41

Think

Has it ever happened to you that people who don’t know you judge you and in the blink of an eye, they “know” who you are? That has happened to all of us. I dare say on some occasion we have been like John: we see someone doing a good job and because it is not us, we want to invalidate that person.

The evangelist gives us a good lesson in the text. The lesson is we are not the only ones called to do good work for God’s people. Doing the good work God has given us is not a job to be done alone.

Sometimes we are like the ones John sees. Others try to prevent us from doing the work given to us. Jesus says everyone who does good work is doing the work of Christ and will be rewarded. Everyone who confesses God and Christ and works miracles in Jesus’ name is an instrument of God, even if at times they do not meet our standards.

William Muñiz

Question to Ponder:

Have you ever questioned how other people do good work simply because it doesn’t meet your standards?

Pray

God, thank you that you entrust all your children with good work. Thank you that in your infinite wisdom, you make us all different so your work covers all our needs.

Amen.

Go

The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the eyes of God’s favor be upon you and may you do the work that God has put in you.