keeping god away from others, keeping others away from god - 26th week tuesday

Our readings today remind us of two related things.  They remind us that there are times when we keep God exclusively for ourselves, when we keep God away from others.  But there are also times when we keep others away from God.

First, let us think of the times when we keep God away from others, when we keep God exclusively for ourselves.

The disciples were disturbed that a man not from their group would drive away demons and perform mighty deeds in the name of Jesus and they told Jesus about it in the hope that Jesus would order the man to stop.  Jesus however turned towards then to correct their exclusivist, elitist and intolerant attitude. 

Joshua in our first reading was also disturbed that a portion of the Spirit that rested on Moses was also be given to two men Eldad and Medad, even if they did not gather with the rest of the 70 elders at the Tent of Meeting.  Moses however had no desire to monopolize the Spirit.  He did not want to be the only channel of God’s grace and so he did not hesitate to add two more to the 70.

Many times we keep God away from others.  Many times we keep God exclusively for ourselves. And so many times we end up believing that “Good is not good unless I am the one who does it,” instead of “good is good, even if it is not I who do it.” Watch out always for that tendency to exaggerate our self-importance.

Let us allow God to be God.  We cannot control God.  We cannot put God in a box and fashion him to our liking and lead him to our way of thinking.  The Spirit after all blows where it pleases.  Grace is more powerful than our biases, our traditions and mindsets.  Only the will of God matters, and it would be helpful if we become more discerning like Jesus and Moses.

Let us also be reminded what St John wrote in his First Letter: "Wherever there is a caring love, there is God."

Second, let us also think of the times when we keep others away from God.  Today’s gospel carries with it a severe warning against those who prevent people from coming closer to God.  It is looked upon by Jesus as something very sinful.  Skandalon means we become the source and the cause for others to sin, we are a stumbling block on the way of others.  In this regard it is important to be reminded that we are not alone in our growth in the faith.  What I do affects others.  They can either hasten the growth of the faith of the people or it can kill this outright, they can drive people away or draw them more deeply to Jesus.