Friends, today we are celebrating the twenty-sixth Sunday of ordinary time year b. We thank God who freely gives His spirit to all people. Through God’s gift, people of all nations can resist sin and manifest His true Spirit in their lives and actions. Brothers and sisters, the first reading of today and the gospel are similar in many ways. They remind us that God can freely choose and equip whoever He wishes. Friends, the readings of this Sunday invite us to see God’s spirit in every person, use our wealth justly, and recognize the good works of others. Lord, help us to be open to Your spirit in all people. Teach us to use our wealth wisely and to be generous. May we always recognize and support the good works done in Your name by our brothers and sisters. Amen.
Friends, Moses spent his life serving the people of Israel, but in the last years of his life he was seized by a great discouragement because his difficulties and problems were increasing and he was unable to control the people’s demands, complaints, and rebellious behavior. One day he said to the Lord; “was it I who conceived all these people? Was it? Who gave them birth? I cannot carry the weight of these undisciplined people on my own.” The first reading of today begins from here. On a fixed day, seventy men gathered in the tent where God used to descend to talk to Moses. They received the spirit and began to prophesy, but God’s spirit rests on Eldad and Medad, even though they were not at the gathering. This surprises everyone, including Moses. Moses explains that God can choose anyone to share His spirit. Friends, this story teaches us that God’s spirit is not limited. God can work through anyone, regardless of where they are. We should be open to seeing God’s work in unexpected places and people. When we accept that God’s spirit can be present in anyone, we become more inclusive. We see that everyone has the potential to share God’s message. This helps us to appreciate the diverse ways God works in the world.
Friends, in the second reading of today, James gives a strong warning to the rich. He condemns those who hoard wealth and exploit others. He emphasizes that wealth should be used to help others. Today, James warns all of us against oppression, and injustices of all kinds against the weak, the poor, and those who God has freely chosen. This is especially, against those who do not belong to our, group, or class. We should not strangle the true spirit of God at work in them. Rather, we should help them to advance and grow physically and spiritually.
Brothers and sisters, are material goods a bad thing? No. James here is not criticizing wealth. He does not express a wish that it be destroyed. He is merely condemning those who fail to share it with their brothers and sisters, those who up all their stores and use everything for themselves, to satisfy their whims and fancies. Friends, James wants us to see the dangers of being greedy. Wealth can make us selfish and blind to the needs of others. True wealth is found in sharing and caring for those less fortunate. Today we are invited to use our resources wisely. We are called to be generous and just. By helping others, we live out our faith in practical ways.
Friends, like in the first reading of today, in the gospel, we equally see men outside the fold of Christ’s disciples preaching and casting out demons both in the power of the Holy Spirit and in the name of Jesus Christ. Consequently, we see the zealous and envious disciples getting afraid and worried. They were afraid that these men outside their fold whom the Lord chose and anointed with His spirit were threats to their mission and position. So, instead of seeing them as fellow workers in God’s mission, they became jealous and despised them. They thought that God’s spirit and mission solely belonged to them. Unfortunately, they were wrong.
Beloved friends, Moses and Jesus refused to yield to the fears, jealousy, and malicious requests of their disciples to stop them. Being filled with the spirit of God themselves, they wisely discerned and knew that these men were genuine. Their mission is in line with the will of God, that all men may receive His spirit and preach the good news. Brothers and sisters, there are many lessons for us from today’s readings. First, God can choose and use anyone he wishes for his mission. Second, He gives His Spirit for the edification of his church. Third, nothing not even the devil, can stop whoever God truly anoints for his mission. Fourth and most important, we must not be jealous or envious of the gift of others. Rather, we should see one another as companions in God’s mission.
Friends, we should not be quick to judge others who are doing good work, even if they are not part of our group. Jesus values all efforts done in His name. This requires wisdom and it is the Spirit of God that gives this wisdom. Only those who are filled, and are docile to the Holy Spirit can discern and distinguish between the true and the false spirit. So, we must be very careful not to despise those that the Lord has freely and truly chosen, and filled with his spirit for the edification of his people and Church. The Lord be with you …. May the almighty God bless you, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Have a Blessed Sunday and a Fruitful New Month to You
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By: Fr. Ben Chola mccj
Aka Omuntu Wa Bantu
