The Spirit works through us and where God wishes to bring love and mercy - Homily, 26th Sunday of Ordinary Time – Cycle B– 9/27/15

I’d like to start out today recalling part of the opening prayer: that God Manifest His almighty power above all by pardoning and showing mercy, and bestowing his grace abundantly. This prayer is very fitting as Pope Francis visits our country this week for the World Meeting of Families.  Pope Francis has declared this upcoming Church year, as a year of Mercy.  I think his visit here is helping to usher in a spirit of Mercy through all the People of God.

Our first reading and the Gospel have a common theme of God bestowing his grace through the Spirit, but our human nature presents some challenges.   In the Gospel John came to Jesus complaining about others “who do not follow us” driving out demons.  John is jealous of others doing good works in Jesus name, because they’re not part of the inner circle of the disciples.  His complaint is that they’re “not one of us”. In a similar situation Joshua complains to Moses about Eldad and Medad prophesying. They weren’t present when God’s spirit came upon the seventy elders.  Joshua requests Moses to stop them.  Both John and Joshua had the attitude they were the exclusive ones to carry out the work of God.

We need to be careful not to fall into this mindset.  As Catholics we may sometimes think we have exclusivity on carrying out good works in Jesus’ name.  We may not be open to working with others faith tradition because they’re “not one us”.  As Catholic’s the Spirit is bestowed on us at Baptism and enables us extend God’s love and mercy.  We’re reminded of this when we ask for a portion of the Lord’s spirit to come upon us when we he hear in Mass: “The Lord be with you” and we respond: “And with your Spirit”.    Our Lord Jesus is present in us through the Holy Spirit. But we need to remember that God can also extend the Holy Spirit to those he wishes.

Jesus responds to John that “no one performs a mighty deed in His name who can at the same time speak ill of me”, and that, “whoever is not against us is for us”.   He is affirming that the power to do good works in his name is not exclusive to the small circle of the disciples.  Jesus tells them, “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because they belong to Christ will surely not lose their reward.”  Moses as well responds to the Joshua’s complaints: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!”  Both Jesus and Moses testify to John and Joshua that God’s work is not exclusive to their inner circles, but also to those whom God chooses to work through. 

Pope Francis appeals to people of many faiths and even those of no faith who aspire for the common good of all God’s people.  I think his example of being a humble servant

CNS/Paul Haring

outreaching to those most in need of love and mercy is what inspires others.  During the pope’s visit he’s making time to visit a prison. On Sunday he’ll be at the Curran Fromhold Correctional Facility in Philadelphia.  The inmates there are Muslims, Christians, and some of no faith.  Some of them helped to build a special chair for Pope Francis.  The Pope, making time to visit, will surely inspire them and give them hope. It will show that they are important and have value as being God’s children. Many of these men and women have never had love or mercy ever extended to them in their entire lives.

I’ve been involved with jail & prison ministry in my works of charity.

This has really opened up my eyes to the working of the Holy Spirit in people of many faith traditions through Kairos prison ministry.   Kairos is an ecumenical ministry to men and women in prisons throughout the world.  The Kairos teams present retreats over a weekend similar to Christ Renews His Parish.  The teams are made up of laypersons and clergy of various Christian faith traditions.   Their goal is to introduce the inmates to the person of Jesus who extends love and mercy to them. Listen, Listen, Love, Love is the theme of the presenting team, which totally focuses on showing love to the participants. 

I’ve had the privilege of serving on one retreat weekend, which required months of preparation. A majority of the presenting team was of other faith traditions.   I must admit feeling a little apprehensive being in the minority as a Catholic and maybe even a little jealous of the other faith traditions   As the weekend progressed I could genuinely see the working of the Holy Spirit in both the presenters and the participants.    At the weekend’s conclusion I witnessed the unsolicited personal testimony of one of the most unlikely participants who shared his encounter with the love of mercy of Christ.  It’s amazing what the Holy Spirit can accomplish through those formally baptized and those whom God wishes to pour his grace on abundantly.  

As we proceed to receive the Eucharist let us ask the Holy Spirit to help us share God’s love and mercy and to recognize the Spirit working in others to build up God’s kingdom bringing Christ to those most in need.

God bless you.