Now to the second gospel passage mentioned in the last post. Jesus has been trying to get his disciples to focus on and to accept the reality of the moment. He’s told them what history teaches, prophets who push against the status quo end up, not in glory, but, too frequently, dead. After all they’re on their way to Jerusalem, the center of the power brokers who cling to the letter of the Law in their attempt to keep God pleased with them (and, by the way, keep themselves in positions of privilege and power.) The disciples don’t get it. They’re still arguing about which of them is the greatest. Who’s going to have top billing in the new kingdom which Jesus is about to establish?
In the Gospel of Mark (Mark 9;38-40), John, again, comes hurrying up to Jesus to warn him that someone, “who’s not one of us,” is using Jesus’ name to drive out demons from suffering people – whatever demons meant at that time. John continues, “We tried to stop him because he doesn’t belong to us.” As if to say, “We’re the only ones who have the right to help people using your name.” Jesus’ reply is telling. “Don’t stop anyone from doing powerful deeds for good. Whoever does this in my name can’t be opposed to us.” Then Jesus adds, “Anyone who is not against us, is for us.”
From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus has consistently taught that God’s family is not limited by blood, nationality, manner of worship, or social status (not even the designation of “sinner” excludes someone.) When he’s told that his family is outside the crowded house in which he is proclaiming God’s Word, Jesus asserts that anyone who takes in God’s Word and puts it into action in their lives, however they can, is his family – like all those around him who are hungering and thirsting for his message of an all-embracing, all-loving God. And like his mother, who struggled to understand him and his mission. She also treasured and lived God’s Word as best she could.
Our world still suffers from this disease of tribalism. We feel more secure thinking we can pigeonhole people, nations, and religions. Whatever they are, they’re not like us. It’s not possible that they belong, because they’re so different. We’re right, so they can’t be. Jesus invites us to recognize any good that people do, and to acknowledge that the source of all good is God – even if they who do good don’t believe in God, or at least not like we do. Look for the good that people are doing, and thank God. Our tribes tend to be too small. God’s tribe is incredibly extensive and wonderfully inclusive.