Wednesday February 23, 2022

Wednesday of 7th Week in Ordinary Time

 

POLYCARP OF SMYRNA

St Polycarp of Smyrna was a disciple of John the Evangelist and one of the most renowned of the early bishops of Asia. He died a martyr at the age of 86, offering his death as a eucharist of thanksgiving. He declared to his judges: “How could I become disloyal to my King, to whom I owe my salvation?” He is venerated both in the East and in the West. Let us celebrate his and our faithfulness.

 

First Reading : Jas 4: 13-17

And now I have a word for you who brashly announce, “Today—at the latest, tomorrow—we’re off to such and such a city for the year. We’re going to start a business and make a lot of money.” You don’t know the first thing about tomorrow. You’re nothing but a wisp of fog, catching a brief bit of sun before disappearing. Instead, make it a habit to say, “If the Master wills it and we’re still alive, we’ll do this or that.” As it is, you are full of your grandiose selves. All such vaunting self-importance is evil. In fact, if you know the right thing to do and don’t do it, that, for you, is evil.

 

Gospel : Mk 9:38-41

John spoke up, “Teacher, we saw a man using your name to expel demons and we stopped him because he wasn’t in our group.” Jesus wasn’t pleased. “Don’t stop him. No one can use my name to do something good and powerful, and in the next breath slam me. If he’s not an enemy, he’s an ally. Why, anyone by just giving you a cup of water in my name is on our side. Count on it that God will notice.

 

Opening Prayer

“True God in whom there is no lie,”
we admire St Polycarp and we thank you
for the example of his deep faith and courage.

Like him, may we live our life
as a sacrifice that pleases you.
Help us to face with him
contradictions and difficulties in life
with great serenity and trust in you.
Keep us always faithful to you
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

Reflection:

Do not hinder those who do good

Today’s gospel speaks about an unknown exorcist and Mark discusses the issues of diversity and inclusiveness in the early church. Exorcisms were a well-documented phenomenon in early Church. Mark’s episode of the unknown exorcist reflects such a historical situation. Through the episode, Mark explains that God’s kingdom expands not merely through certain well-known authoritative figures, but also through anonymous, minor figures such as today’s unknown exorcist.

The evangelist explains the message of plurality and inclusive nature of God’s kingdom to his community in Rome. By reporting the intolerance of John towards the unknown person who was driving out demons by invoking the name of Jesus, Mark tells his community that the exorcist was an authentic member of God’s kingdom and his exorcism was a mystical way of the growth of the kingdom that Jesus came to establish. For the disciples, this unknown person was an unwelcome intruder. Perhaps the early community in Rome was facing similar trouble and they attempted to define the boundary of the kingdom limited to those who belonged to their group.

The disciples were fixed on one idea: They alone could do good, because they belonged to the company of Jesus – the teacher. The teacher had commissioned them to do the exorcisms and they had done it successfully in the past. But now there is someone who does not belong to their group, but doing the same trade. The disciples respond like some of the trade unions of the modern day! If you want to practice a trade, you must be part of their union! But Jesus did not come to establish a trade union! Church is not a trade union!

Jesus corrected the wrong attitude of his disciples. They were intolerant, but Jesus broadened their horizons to understand that God’s love is for everyone, not only for the 12 disciples”. Jesus wants to educate his disciples — and us today – It is good for us to reflect on this episode and to perform a small examination of conscience.

The disciples’ attitude to reject an unwelcome outsider is very human, very common, and we can observe this in Christian communities throughout history, probably in ourselves as well. How well do we accommodate and appreciate our brothers and sisters from other Christian denominations or even other religions?

Pope Francis reminds us that “God saves everyone… even the atheists too! Because, all of us are children of God”. Through the gospel today, Jesus invites us not to hinder those who do good, because they are all contributing to the fulfilment of God’s plan.

 

Video available on Youtube : Do not hinder those who do good