Jesus Christ came to offer us true freedom, but it is difficult for us to know in what this freedom consists. This question is very pertinent to today's readings.
Both the first reading and the gospel present an episode of people speaking and acting through the Holy Spirit and someone trying to stop them. In the first reading, two men begin to prophesy and Joshua wants to stop them. Joshua thinks they could rival Moses' authority.
In the Gospel, the apostle John has similar concerns (as Joshua was the beloved disciple of Moses, John was the beloved disciple of Jesus). "John said to him, 'Teacher, we saw one casting out demons in your name, and we wanted to hinder him, because he does not come with us.' Jesus answered, 'Do not hinder him, for whoever works a miracle in my name cannot then speak evil of me. He who is not against us is for us'".
He did not like the idea of anyone outside his group using God's power, just as Joshua did not like the idea of anyone outside the 70 elders - which was like Moses' group - prophesying.
But in both cases, this attitude is corrected. Moses corrects Joshua. "Would that all the Lord's people would receive the spirit of the Lord and prophesy!". And Jesus says to John: "Do not hinder him, for whoever performs a miracle in my name cannot then speak evil of me. He who is not against us is for us'". We have here the contrast between the flexibility, the freedom of spirit, of Moses and Jesus and the rigidity of their followers.
It is a good reminder of the danger of rigidity. We are constantly faced with two temptations: laxity or license on the one hand, and rigidity on the other. In the Church we must respect the freedom and approaches of others. There are many paths to God, many forms of worship and prayer. This variety is good and should be respected. It is also good to see people living their prophetic witness - we are all called to be prophets - bearing witness to God in many ways. We should also value the faith of other Christians. Let us not hinder them. They are not against us: they are for us.
Everyone who does good will receive his reward. "Whosoever shall give you a cup of water to drink because you are Christ's, verily I say unto you, he shall not be left without reward.". So, instead of detecting faults in others, let us see their goodness.
But the opposite of true freedom in the Spirit is the false freedom of vice. Hence the other side of the coin is to be willing to cut off any evil deed in our own life. And that is why Our Lord speaks of the need to radically "cut off" every form of sin.
Homily on the readings for Sunday 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)
Priest Luis Herrera Campo offers his nanomiliaA short one-minute reflection for these Sunday readings.
