ARE YOU JEALOUS ON MY ACCOUNT?

XXVI SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME - Mark 9:38-43,45,47-48

Rejoice with the good you see in others

Those who are great are not afraid of their greatness being diminished or destroyed  by what others do. In the first reading of this Sunday’s liturgy, we hear about Joshua’s jealousy, when he heard that “Eldad and Medad are prophesying in the camp.” (Num 11:27). He saw that  prophesying as something happening outside Moses’ authority and understood it as a menace to his greatness. This attitude comes from a sense of insecurity, seeing threats where there are no threats, and claiming exclusive control of all tools of power and influence, so that there is no possible challenge those in power.

Moses reproached Joshua for his jealousy, saying:

“Are you jealous on my account? If only the whole people of the Lord were prophets, and the Lord gave his Spirit to them all!” (Num 11:29).

The gospel presents a similar situation, when the apostle John reported to Jesus that they had stopped someone who was healing in his name, without being his follower. Like Moses, Jesus reproached the Apostles for their jealousy, and told them:

“Whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:40).

We must learn to give others a space to be themselves and to put their abilities in action. Seeing the good that is in others or done by others, we should rejoice, instead of demonising them, making their life impossible. We don’t do, and we don’t allow others to do.

Stumbling block

And Jesus warns us in very strong words about being a stumbling block for others, mainly if we cause the little ones to loose faith and to fall. These words apply specially to all those who are in positions of leadership, and make others loose heart or go astray. We may be a stumbling block by our words and by our deeds, and that is so whenever we become role models for evil instead of good. And nowadays, we find far worse than that: there are people and groups who use and abuse the little ones to get huge profits. There are criminal groups who use the internet and the social networks to seduce children, destroying their innocence and transforming them into slaves. We need to be alert to protect our children and to protect the faith of our people. If we ignore the danger that surrounds our children, we will be responsible for the evil done to them and our punishment will be harsh.

“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.” (Mk 9:42).