Sept. 30: 26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

People of good will

Nm 11:25-29; Ps 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

In his beautiful apostolic exhortation, “The Joy of the Gospel,” Pope Francis speaks with deep respect for people of good will who may have no particular religious persuasion.

“As believers, we also feel close to those who do not consider themselves part of any religious tradition, yet sincerely seek the truth, goodness and beauty which we believe have their highest expression and source in God,” he writes. “We consider them as precious allies in the commitment to defending human dignity, in building peaceful coexistence between peoples and in protecting creation.”

I was reminded of the pope’s words when reflecting on the readings for this Sunday. Each of them has a strong expansive view of how God works in the world. 

The first reading from the Book of Numbers describes a somewhat curious incident during the exodus from Egypt. As had happened more than once, God “comes down in the cloud” and confers with Moses.

This time the Lord takes a portion of the spirit that he had lavished on Moses and distributes it among the 70 leading elders of the people. Two such elders, Eldad and Medad, were absent from the camp when this happened but the “spirit came to rest on them also.” 

When Joshua heard a report that these two are prophesying like the others — a sure sign of the spirit’s presence — he tells Moses to stop them. But Moses refuses: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!”

The selection for today from Mark’s Gospel has the same inclusive tone. John, the son of Zebedee, (who had earned the nickname “boanerges” or “son of thunder”) was indignant that someone “who does not follow us” was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. 

Rather than joining John in preventing the man from the work he was doing, Jesus endorses him, “For whoever is not against us is for us.”  Equally important, Jesus goes on to identify the marks of those who are animated by his spirit: They give those who are thirsty a cup of water and they do not cause the “little ones” who believe in Jesus to sin.

Jesus sharply rebukes those who harm the little ones. The Greek term used here, “mikroi,” refers not simply to children but to any vulnerable person, child or adult. “It would be better for that person if a great millstone were put around their neck and they were thrown in to the sea!” How stinging are these words now as the church’s terrible failure to protect children is coming to light again.

Jesus’ words about giving a cup of water to someone in need are amplified in the powerful prophetic words of the Letter of James that we also hear this Sunday. He flays those blessed with abundance who neglect or exploit the poor. “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries.” 

As we have heard the last three Sundays, this early Jewish-Christian letter prods our conscience with blunt words about putting our faith into action.

As the quotation from Pope Francis indicates, it is particularly in the cause of defending human dignity and restoring right relationships among peoples (as well as with creation itself) that we can find alliance with other people of good will who may not be part of “our camp.”

Recently, I read a fine book by the Australian theologian Jesuit Father Gerald O’Collins, who emphasizes the universal outreach of our Christian faith. Our Catholic (which itself means “universal”) tradition believes that in Christ, God intended to save the entire world, not just Christians. 

The triumph of Jesus over the power of death was a victory intended for all humans and for our universe itself. God’s Spirit poured out on the world through Jesus is not rationed only to those who explicitly share our faith but animates and guides all people of good will.

Moses’ declaration still stands: “Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!”