Friday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
As humans, we have a tendency to categorize people into groups of “us” and “them.” Likely an evolutionary development for survival, our modern brains continue with that tendency to divide people into those categories of those that we belong to, thereby feeling safe and protected by (“us”), and those that we don’t belong to, deemed potentially unsafe and feared and therefore rejected or even attacked (“them”). This seems to pervade much of our social/societal interactions even in today’s “civilized” world, including within our own religion and church(es). Today’s gospel reading from Luke seems to reflect this same sort of tendency.
Having just driven a demon out of a person, Jesus’ adversaries begin to question Jesus, accusing him of using demonic power, rather than power from God. It’s as if they are saying, you’re not one of us, therefore you must be of Satan. We read that Jesus handles the accusations very cleverly, pointing out that if this is true, then their own people are guilty of the same when they perform exorcisms, and he warns about a house or kingdom divided being laid waste.
Seemingly contradicting, Jesus goes on to say “whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” However, earlier in Luke’s gospel, we read the passage (Luke 9:49,50) about a disciple complaining of seeing others casting out demons in Jesus’ name “and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” To which Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.” In both instances, the goal is the same, healing and building up God’s kingdom, not competing against others with similar goals.
Are we contributing to the “us” and “them” mentality that only further divides the Kingdom of God? Am I helping to gather people to Jesus or further scattering even our fellow Catholics and Christians? If not in words, how about in actions?
Rather than create our own kingdoms that leave so many of “them” outside, let us pray for the discernment, grace and courage to help bring together God’s Kingdom, a house undivided.
—Eileen Miller