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| Divided self (by Sergio Albiac) |
Sunday Gospel
Reflection (Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48)
In
today’s Gospel Jesus’ disciples question Him about a stranger who had been
performing mighty works and miracles in Jesus’ name, even though he was not one
of the disciples. The disciples assumed that since he was not part of their group
that he should not be allowed to heal people in Jesus’ name. Jesus disagrees,
telling them that whoever is not against
us is for us. Jesus teaches the disciples to be more open to others who
might not be in their group and to celebrate the good that people are doing,
instead of focusing on what is unknown or what might separate them.
Jesus
then takes this message a step further, teaching his disciples to seek unity
instead of division within their own hearts and minds. We are divided selves,
both saints and sinners but are called to unity and wholeness, not division
within ourselves. Soren Kierkegaard once said that a saint is a person who wills the one thing, a person who is
single-minded and dedicated. Oftentimes being single-minded and dedicated (like
in sports or academics) means making sacrifices (one sport over another or studying
over Facebook); the same is true about being single-minded and dedicated to
God.
God
didn’t just make a part of us, He created all of us. He doesn’t just know some
things about us, He knows our thoughts, desires, fears and can count the number
of hairs on our head. We are most happy and whole when we put God first in our
lives and are dedicated to being fully alive as God has made us to be by
serving others and using our gifts (like sports and academics). This, like
anything worth doing, takes hard work and practice, it requires the support of
parents and a community to help you out; this is what it means to be Church, to
walk together as a community supporting one another in love.
This Week
-Think
about a person who you view or prefer to see as an outsider and get to know
him/her better, celebrating what is good about the person!
-Think
about your own life and something that is a struggle for you. This week
practice working on that struggle with dedication and prayer.
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