The Eucharistic Gospel reading for Sunday of Proper 21: Year B
“But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me;” (Mark 9:39).
Our Current Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church says that we are on the Episcopal path of the Jesus movement. Implied in the Bishop’s statement is that there are other paths. And, there are.
But taking a page from Moses’ playbook, (Numbers 11: 26 to 30). “What if all the Churches of the world preached, taught and healed in Jesus’ Name?” Well, if they are Christian Churches, they do. And as Episcopalians, we are not to get jealous or tribal. We are to work with them and be thankful for the help.
Jesus is making the point that whosoever copies the love of God in Christ Jesus, and works in Jesus’ Name, does the work of Jesus. Much to John’s chagrin in our Gospel reading for today, the unnamed healer did not have to be in their specific group of twelve as long as he or she was copying Jesus’ healings with love and respect.
Jesus also makes the point that if we dedicate ourselves to learning the art of healing with love, we can’t speak out against the very teachings we have dedicated ourselves to. That would be foolish.
Today we have many Christian paths to and through our Lord Jesus to God Almighty. As we dedicate ourselves to Jesus, in which ever denominational road we take, we know that Jesus does not want us to be stopped, nor stop others in who are working in Jesus’ Name. The world today still needs Jesus servers, teachers, and healers of all stripes. My continued prayer is that one day, our stripes will blend back into one flock with one shepherd in this present world, on earth, as it is in heaven.
Please keep up your thoughts and prayers and hopes for Ukraine and Russia, Israel and Palestine, and our schools. And, as we listen to what the Spirit of God is saying to us, let us live to love and serve, and to teach others to love and serve, while pondering anew what the Almighty can do. John
Let us pray: A Collect for Sundays (BCP p. 98)
O God, you make us glad with the weekly remembrance of the glorious resurrection of your Son our Lord: Give us this day such blessing through our worship of you, that the week to come may be spent in your favor; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
onewhoponders 