Today’s Gospel:  Luke 11:15-26

REFLECTION
There is no formal contradiction between this verse, “He who is not with me is against me,” and Mark 9:40, “Whoever is not against us is for us” (or, as Lk 9:50 has it, “Whoever is not against you is for you”). In a situation where no neutrality is possible, people must be either on one side or on the other, so that those who are not for are against, and those who are not against are for. But there is a difference in emphasis between the two ways of expressing this.

The former saying comes in a context where Jesus is speaking of the conflict between the kingdom of God and the forces of evil. This is a conflict in which no one should be neutral. Since Jesus is the divinely appointed agent for leading the battle against the forces of evil, those who wish to see the triumph of God’s cause must follow him. If they do not, then whatever they may think themselves, they are effectively on the enemy’s side. As for the added words about gathering and scattering, gathering is the work of God, while scattering is the work of Satan. God is the God of peace; Satan is the author of strife. “The kingdom of God is the one constructive unifying redemptive power in a distracted world; and every man has to choose whether he will take sides with it or against it.”

The latter saying is related to the same subject, although it comes in the course of a narrative, as the punch line in what is sometimes called a “pronouncement story.” The story is told, that is to say, for the sake of the pronouncement to which it leads up. Here, then, we have such a punch line. John, one of the two “sons of thunder” (as Jesus called him and his brother James because of their stormy temperament), tells Jesus that he and his companions saw someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name, “and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us” (Mk 9:38). In other words, he was not one of the regularly recognized disciples of Jesus. But he was showing clearly which side he was on in the spiritual warfare; moreover, he was acknowledging the authority of Jesus, because it was in his name that he was casting out demons. This was a far cry from the spirit that ascribed Jesus’ demon-expelling power to the aid of Beelzebub. By his words and actions he was showing himself to be on Jesus’ side.

John was no doubt concerned lest his Master’s name might be taken in vain, if it was invoked by a man who had not been authorized by Jesus to speak or act in his name. But Jesus did not share his well-meant concern. John has always had his successors in the church, who feel unhappy when things are done in Jesus’ name by people whose authority to do them they cannot recognize. But Jesus’ reply remains sufficient to silence this attitude: “No one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me” (Mk 9:39).

Today’s Reading:  Gal 3:7-14

PRAYER
Lord, when we are beset by attacks by the enemy, remind us to turn to you.  For you are our refuge and protector, and there is none more powerful than you.  In Jesus’ Name we pray.  Amen.