Today’s scripture: Luke 9:49-50 (NRSV) (The Message) (KJV) What might God be saying to me?
My thoughts (John Seksay):
Could there be a simpler exchange of information than today’s reading? According to the apostle John, some stranger was using the name of Jesus to cast out demons without signing on board for the franchising rights first, so to speak. Jesus was certainly taxed to the maximum trying to answer so many cries for help from the multitudes; why object to a little help?
Because the apostles were struggling with an issue we all confront. To be colloquial, somebody seemed to be stealing their thunder. The apostles were the true followers and wanted recognition as such. To read today’s verses with fuller understanding, I had to see them in the context of the verses before, where the apostles were actually having an argument about which of them was the greatest! They were having issues sorting out who was being the best follower, or as might be heard today, the best Christian. Which of them was the most authentic in their commitment? If Jesus had taken the example of worldly figures like Donald Trump, he could have simply said: “What idiots! You’re all fired!” But then, he wouldn’t be Jesus, would he?
Jesus presented an example. Picking up a child, he states “Whoever (aka, anybody!) receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives him who sent me…” Some translations use “welcome” in the place of “receive”, but the essential point is the same. The apostles were the greeters for the Kingdom of God. To welcome someone in Jesus’ name meant to treat them as Jesus would, on God’s behalf. When they’re trying to elevate themselves over others, and create a pecking order, they aren’t loving their neighbor. Their goal should be to serve and elevate all they meet!
Still, the apostle John tries to set a boundary. This stranger hadn’t gone through recognized channels for becoming a follower of Jesus and a greeter for the Kingdom of God. Surely he was to be rebuked for spiritual patent infringement! But Jesus points out that this “stranger” should be judged by his fruits. Was his casting out demons in Jesus’ name contrary to God’s will? Apparently not.
I know how I sometimes question the spiritual “credentials” of people who claim to be Christians. How could they possibly hold a viewpoint one iota different from mine? Can’t they see what I see just as I see it?
Try typing the term “eyes” into Wikipedia. “Eyes with resolving power have come in ten fundamentally different forms…” “Some compound eyes have up to 28,000 separate lenses and are able to see a full 360 degree view…” Hmm. Even human vision isn’t standardized. I just read an article in a science magazine that highlighted a recent discovery: some women have an additional set of visual receptors in their eyes. They can literally detect subtle color differences with ten times the sensitivity of the “normal” eye. Our one million perceptible tones blossom out to ten million in their eyes! What names might they need for all those shades of colors I can’t even see? Just how “color-blind” am I?
If visual sight is this complex, how different might spiritual “eyes” be? As I read today’s passage, I must use the living witness of Jesus Christ to clear my sight if I intend to act in his name. What does God easily see that I am simply unable to perceive?
Thought for the day: Jesus, help me not fall prey to my own blind spots! Lord, may my vision always be clear enough to see the limitations of my own understanding!
We encourage you to include a time of prayer with this reading. If you need a place to get started, consider the suggestions on the How to Pray page.