His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa: XXVI Sunday Of Ordinary Time

Below you can find the Meditation of His Beatitude Patriarch Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, for the XXVI Sunday Of Ordinary Time, Sunday 29 September 2024.

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

This Sunday’s Gospel (Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48) consists of two events that appear to have little in common.

Initially, we witness the disciples' frustration due to seeing a group of people, who did not belong to their circle, casting out demons in Jesus' name (Mk 9:38-41). Mark recounts that John approaches Jesus to report the situation and expresses their desire to stop them from doing so.

In the second part, we hear Jesus speak about the seriousness of causing scandal, specifically addressing those who create obstacles to the faith of the little ones (Mark 9:41-43, 45, 47-48).

A key to understanding this is found in a phrase that appears multiple times in the second part: it is the expression Jesus uses to describe the ultimate goal of the journey we are all called to—"to enter into life" or "to enter the kingdom of God" (Mark 9:43, 45, 47).

This is the Father's will and God's gift: that we enter into life, live it to the fullest, and offer it in love, just as Christ did.

Last Sunday, we learned that our lives can be lived fully and beautifully when we embrace the standards of the Gospel, which reject the notions of greatness and power. Instead, we are called to receive and express gratitude for all things, much like children.

In both parts of today's Gospel, we find an element that somehow has something to do with this Journey, the one that leads into life.

In the first part, we see that the disciples are convinced that they have the exclusive right to decide who can enter and who cannot, who belongs to the Kingdom and who does not, who can work in the name of Jesus, and who cannot: according to them, no one can cast out demons except those who belong to the close circle of disciples.

In response to this attitude, Jesus instructs His disciples to adopt a different perspective.

It is not a matter of perceiving who is in and who is out, but rather learning to recognize the good wherever it is found.

Taking action against evil doesn't mean excluding those who haven't sought permission to do good or who aren't part of our group, as if we hold some exclusive authority.

Jesus seems to be saying that whoever fights against evil, like that fellow who casts out demons, automatically takes his side, and fights the same battle.

If we learn to look, we will be amazed at the many gestures of good that flourish freely outside our narrow circle. And the first beneficiaries of this good will be us, the disciples, to whom anonymous benefactors can give a glass of water, just because we are his (‘Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward’ (Mk 9:41).

The second part of the Gospel takes us a step further.

To enter into life, Jesus requires separation, detachment, a loss…

This Meditation was originally published on the website of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Please click here to read the full text.