Are you for Christ or not?

“ANYONE WHO IS NOT AGAINST US IS FOR US.”

Mk. 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

One of Jesus’ last prayers on this earth was “Father, that they may all be one.”  How seriously do we desire this unity for which Jesus prayed?  We have to think like Jesus.  It is so easy for us to live in an ivory tower believing we have the true faith and so show little or no respect for the beliefs of others.   Among our daily prayers we should include a prayer for unity among God’s people, that unity which was so dear to the heart of Jesus?  That prayer can be a gauge telling us how earnestly we desire unity.

I think in the past 30 to 40 years we have made good strides towards unity.  I can remember a conversation with an Anglican priest friend of mine.  He related how in the 1960’s he was walking in his hometown when he saw the Catholic priest on the same side of the road.  Hoping the priest had not seen him; he immediately crossed the road so that they would not have to meet.  He said I’m sure the priest was pleased because he too would not want to have to acknowledge my presence.  But he added, look at us now.  Here you are, liking my preaching and coming to my Church to listen to me.  Years ago, we would never have dreamed of mixing like this.  I thank God that those awkward barriers have been brought down.

Our first reading touches on this matter.  Moses called a special meeting for his elders, where they were to receive a unique outpouring of God’s spirit so that they could prophesy.  Two of the elders, Eldad and Medad, missed the meeting, but still got the spirit.  At this Joshua, Moses’ aide, complained and asked Moses to declare the spirit invalid.  Moses would not do such a thing.  He said he only wished more people had the spirit of God. He was not concerned how they got it, but was simply glad they had it.  In other words, he said, don’t impose limitations on what God can do or how He does it.

The Gospel has a similar message.  The Apostles had seen a stranger performing miracles in the name of Jesus.  Since he was unknown to and unapproved by their particular group, they tried to stop him.  Jesus did not want the man stopped.  Jesus said, “Anyone who is not against us is for us.”  We Catholics know that we belong to the one true Church founded by Jesus Christ.  We owe a reverent respect to our Church with its rules and ways of worship.  Of course, we are glad that God is present to us, but that doesn’t mean to say that He is absent from others just because they are ‘not one of us’.  Although we know Christ founded our Church, we should not engage in this quarrel of who is right and who is wrong, but should acknowledge the differences and accept those who are not opposing us, as being for us.  Both the Old and New Testaments, Moses and Jesus, present this balanced style of ecumenism.

I have found at times that there have been adverse feelings among charismatic and traditional Catholics.  One is suspicious of the other.  Each group must learn to respect each other.  We should be wary of those who say there is but one way to do anything – especially in religion.  There are many ways to live, work, find God and worship Him.  There are many roads to Heaven with various religious sects along the way providing needed help and good directions.  I, like many of you, were brought into this world by Catholic parents and we can’t help being Catholics.  Others are brought into this world by parents of a different faith and neither can they help being who they are.  We are to worship as we see fit and respect others who believe and worship differently.  Just as we want them to respect our beliefs, we are to respect theirs.  Such is the command of Jesus and Moses.

Notice Jesus’ attitude towards the man whom John wanted to exclude.  “No one who works a miracle in My name is likely to speak evil of Me.”  In other words, Jesus judged him on the basis of deeds, not dogma.  This man we are told was expelling demons, which means he was trying to help people.  Jesus was willing to share His name with anyone who was doing that.  He went on to say, “If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, he will most certainly not lose his reward.”  That is a further statement of the same principle.  Jesus is in fact saying that the simple deeds of kindness are one of the surest signs of Christian discipleship.

So, what should be our attitude towards those who are ‘not one of us’?  We have a clear choice.  We can take the attitude of John or the attitude of Jesus.  We can close them out, or we can say with Jesus, “Anyone who is not against us is for us.”  We may not be able to achieve Christian unity, but, at least, we can seek to be Christian in the midst of disunity.

Lord Jesus, by our lives and by our dealing with people of other faiths may we draw them closer to You.  May we help to achieve Your prayer, "Father, may they all be one."

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