Dear brothers and sisters in Christ, we come together to reflect on God's word as given to us in the Scriptures, reminding ourselves to open our hearts to what the Lord is asking us. In our first reading from the Book of Numbers, we witness an extraordinary event involving Moses and the seventy elders chosen to help him govern the people of Israel. The Spirit of God comes upon these elders and they begin to prophesy, declaring God’s truth and will. However, two men, Eldad and Medad, remain in the camp, yet they also receive the Spirit and prophesy. When Joshua sees this, he tells Moses to stop them, fearing they are acting out of turn. But Moses replies with a beautiful longing: “Would that all the people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his Spirit on them all!”
Moses' desire for a community soaked in the Spirit is reflective of the heart of God who longs to empower all His people. This is a powerful reminder to us of our own prophetic vocations in Christ, for if we were baptized into Christ, as the Catechism teaches us, we have been baptized into his triple office of King, Prophet, and Priest, and partake in those offices in some way, shape or form. Each of us has a role to play in the tapestry of God’s kingdom, yet we may find that the Spirit is stirring in unexpected people, beyond the walls of our own community. Today’s media seems saturated with individuals, who although brilliant in articulating their stances, had once been far and estranged from God, and had perhaps formerly even mocked the idea. However, we are beginning to see more and more of them, not only coming around, but also voicing their allegiance to the one, true God of heaven. Is this too not the Spirit of the Lord working in those who perhaps are on the way to full communion with the Church, but are still found to be technically outside of it? Of course, I am not suggesting you should go out and take everything said in the media as gospel truth – far from it. I am only noting how God is working in the hearts of many people we would not expect to be immersing themselves more and more into the Kingdom of God.
In the second reading, St. James warns us about the dangers of wealth and the moral obligation we have towards one another. He paints a stark picture of the consequences of greed and exploitation, reminding us that our earthly treasures are fleeting and that our indifference to injustice can lead us down a destructive path. “Come now, you rich, weep and wail over your impending miseries,” he proclaims. This too is something I am noticing about a few of these individuals: God is showing them the ephemeral nature of their wealth, and how “man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.” We ought to continue to pray that God raises many more voices, and to reiterate Moses’ wish, “Would that the Lord might bestow his Spirit on them all!”
In light of this, we may want to ask ourselves: Are we building our lives on the solid foundation of Christ and His teachings, or on our own disillusioned cravings for wealth and power? Are we aware of how our actions affect others? The Spirit comes to guide us toward justice and equity, urging us to share our gifts rather than hoard them and to base our lives on the truth, and Jesus is that truth. He is the truth, the way and the life we all so
deeply seek on our individual, but collective journeys. As followers of Francis, we are challenged to live in a focused simplicity, ensuring that we prioritize relationships and the common good over material gain.
The Gospel of Mark brings us to a conversation between Jesus and His disciples about the universal nature of his mission. John shares that they found someone casting out demons in Jesus' name who was not part of their group, and they tried to stop him. Jesus counters their impulse, saying, “Do not prevent him. For whoever is not against us is for us.” Here, Jesus illustrates a profound principle of His Kingdom: our unity in Christ transcends our boundaries and labels. Every act of goodness, every effort to bring healing into the world, resonates with the very heart of Jesus. We just need to be careful that these good actions are not exploited for political gain. So, for example, while we are called to embrace the struggling, the migrant, and those who are escaping horrific situations in their own countries, we nevertheless cannot do so indiscriminately so as to accumulate a desired number of votes to help with an election. The people we help, must not come at the cost of jeopardizing the safety of our friends and loved ones, for otherwise we would be contradicting the spirit of love with which we reached out to the struggling in the first place. Rather, we need to help people fleeing from their country, while also screening the would-be criminals who seek to enter only so as to unleash torments on innocent civilians. Again, we need to be heroic in our love, but also wise and prudent.
Today, it is fitting to also recognize the Feast of the Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, which coincides with our readings. These powerful angels serve as heavenly protectors, messengers, and healers and they are known for being heroic in their love, with an equal abundance of wisdom and prudence. Michael is the protector against evil, embodied in Satan, who once went beyond the parameters of prudence, and plummeted into the depths of pride’s woeful inclinations to which he had succumb; Gabriel delivers God’s messages; and Raphael encourages healing. The archangels remind us that we are never alone in our journey. They stand as a testament to the reality of spiritual warfare, the profound presence of God’s beings working among us to guide us on our way, much like the Spirit bestowed on the elders and the early disciples.
As Franciscans and followers of Christ, we strive to be conduits of the Holy Spirit in our world while thanking him for the profound gift of being accompanied on life’s journey by his beloved spirits – the angels. Let us, with them by our side, stand firm against the exploitation of the vulnerable, embracing the call to serve as Christ served, and extend our hands and hearts
in love to all, welcoming every good work done in the name of Jesus, yet may those good works always be accompanied by prudence.
Let us go forth to live out our mission, proclaiming the good news and inviting others into the transformative love of the Crucified One, as the angels adore and magnify his name throughout all eternity. Amen.
Add comment
Comments