Who is not against us is for us
Last week I had the pleasure of conducting two workshops, one for a group of Christian meditators in Canada, via Zoom, and another for a Christian men’s organization at the local Seminary. At both workshops there were participants of different Christian faith traditions.
As I read Jesus’ statement in this week’s Gospel Mark 9: 38-48 ‘Jesus said ‘…who is not against us is for us’ I thought of the participants and how easily they engaged with the content and the other members. So often we make divisions among ourselves when they little matter, seeking out areas where we differ in beliefs, while ignoring the large tracts where we are similar, much like John in this week’s Gospel.
Jesus is urging us not to be jealous but to be accommodating. This is the spirit of the Kingdom of God. It is in contrast to the spirit of the world which is one of ego and self-righteousness, which we should guard against. We find this spirit even in our homes and among our family.
I’ve seen how small differences can create rifts that overshadow the deeper bonds of love and shared values. Just as the disciples in Mark’s Gospel struggled with jealousy and the desire to be right, we too, in our families, can fall into the trap of focusing on where we differ rather than celebrating our common ground. Jesus calls us to rise above this, urging us to foster unity, forgiveness, and understanding.
When we truly live by His words, ‘who is not against us is for us,’ we might find that many of the divisions that tear at our relationships are, in fact, unnecessary, and that healing is within reach when we choose to prioritize love and familial ties over being right.
It is the same in faith communities. We can so easily seek out others' seeming failures and differences, allowing these to create unnecessary divisions. Whether it’s differing opinions on how ministries should be run, the style of worship, or personal approaches to faith, we often focus on what sets us apart rather than what brings us together. These divisions can weaken the very foundation of our parish community, distracting us from our shared mission of serving Christ and one another.
Instead of fostering unity, we become fragmented, losing sight of the fact that we are all part of the same Body of Christ. Jesus calls us to embrace one another's strengths and weaknesses, knowing that our differences can enrich the parish if approached with understanding and compassion. By focusing on love, service, and the core of our faith, we can build a parish that thrives on collaboration, inclusion, and the spirit of God's Kingdom.
This week, let us examine ourselves and see where we are being divisive instead of being understanding and accommodating. Let us challenge ourselves to seek out the good in others and celebrate our common mission.
Friends, based on feedback from the two workshops, I am considering offering i) An online retreat on Navigating Life Transitions and ii) A weekly weekend video post titled ‘Sunday School’ focusing on a conversational style ‘Exploring the Christian Faith’. I would appreciate your feedback if you would be interested in either.
Also, appealing to those who can afford to, to make a donation to the upkeep and growth of this online ministry of the word. Our world is quickly adopting alternative values and if we do not support the proclamation of Kingdom values we all suffer the consequences.