29th September 2024
Lectionary Readings: Nm 11:25-29; Ps. 19, 8. 10. 12-13. 14 ; Jas 5:1-6; Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Theme: God works in mysterious ways
The beginning of today’s gospel corresponds nicely with the first reading from the Old Testament. Both texts challenge the reader to think about God moving in his own mysterious ways, a God who is neither confined to our own worldview, nor to our own denomination.
In the book of Numeri God descends in a cloud and takes from Moses’ prophetic spirit and distributes portions of it to the seventy chosen elders. To receive the spirit, the elders are summoned to gather around the tent of meeting. However, two elders, Eldad and Medad, chose – for whatever reason – to remain in the camp. But God is not hindered in his ways if the liturgy is not correct. The two elders who remained in the camp still receive their portion of the spirit and start to prophesy.
Today’s gospel reading is situated in the gospel of Mark a few verses after the transfiguration. There on the mountain, another very intimate moment happened in a cloud. The cloud enveloped Peter and John and God spoke to them about Jesus’ sonship. As the narrative continues, John notices a man who was not part of the disciple group driving out demons in Jesus’ name and asks Jesus to stop him. Interestingly, Jesus lets the man be and even acknowledges his good work in his name.
Both readings can serve as an incentive to think about God working “outside the box”. It is good to have a liturgy, rules and clear regulations on how to communicate with God and care for a close relationship with him. Very often this happens in “a cloud”, i.e. in the midst of a (praying) community or in moments of personal prayer time. But God cannot be confined to the tent of meeting, neither to the camp – throughout the Bible he reveals himself also in other multiple ways.
Peter and John belong to the inner circle of the twelve disciples, both enjoy a very close and dear relationship with Jesus. But even they do not know Jesus’ mind completely. In today’s reading Jesus opens and widens their perspective on God’s working. There were obviously people around, who did not belong to the group of the twelve disciples but who still believed and cherished Jesus and his power. Jesus allows them to be. They might not follow him in the “usual” way but they speak well of him so they cannot be against him.
Not everything of God’s working can be reasonably explained in every detail. It is good to have rules regarding the life of the church and community and for our own walk of faith. But room must be left for the extraordinary. God very often chooses to speak in the cloud, but he may also choose to speak in other ways and to and through people we had not expected. We should never be judging his ways but always be prepared to listen.
For Reflection and Discussion: 1. Have you experienced God speaking to you outside your church context? 2. How can we prepare ourselves to think “outside the box”?
Bibliography: McKenzie, J.L. Dictionary of the Bible (New York: 1965)
This week’s Sunday Liturgy Commentary was prepared by
Barbara Kauffmann, Germany, Bat Kol Alumna 2010, 2011, 2012
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