The Lord came down, took some of the spirit that was on Moses and gave it to the seventy elders (Numbers 11:25-29). Then two of the elders, Eldad and Medad, who though not present, were also seen prophesizing. Then the ‘complaint’ comes from a young man, Joshua, who saw them prophesizing and says, “My Lord Moses, stop them”. Moses responds: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that they were all prophets…Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all (Nb 11:29).” Here the gift is given and then the tendency is to ‘hoard’ the gift with reasons that are not of God who says, “For my ways are not your ways, says the Lord” (Is 55:9). As you reflect on the dynamic in this passage what do you see, what do you learn from it? Can we see this as a lack of self-awareness and self-knowledge where the heart and mind become constricted by the ego’s self-righteousness?
In the gospel of this Sunday, the disciples bring this complaint to Jesus: “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us?” Keep in mind that several passages before this there is the story of the disciples trying to drive out a demon and they are not able. So, the disciples hopefully are learning! Jesus’ reply to the disciples complaint is: “Do not prevent him….for whoever is not against us is for us”. Once again what is the interior dynamic circling around the heart of the disciples? Here is what Pope Francis said: “At this point, Jesus invited the disciples not to hinder those who do good, because they contribute to the fulfillment of God’s plan. Then Jesus admonished them: instead of dividing people into good and bad, we are called to be vigilant over our own hearts, lest we succumb to evil and bring scandal to others” (Angelus, September 26, 2021). To be vigilant over our own heart means to be aware of those voices that are not reflective of God’s ways, that reduce the horizon of Divine life, that depict rigidity and control and not the magnanimous heart of God.
The Spirit of the Lord is given to everyone…there is no distinction. Do we perceive this? Does our faith open the door of the heart to behold this amazing gift? Do we live from this gift? Or does our lack of self-knowledge block us from beholding the length, the breadth, the width, the height of the Divine life whose Spirit is active within our lives. The disciples see others casting out demons, persons who were not part of their intimate group…their minds and hearts are narrow with a certain self-righteousness, and they complain. Jesus challenges them to repentance, that is to change, to enlarge their hearts and to change their perspective, to be like him whose heart and mind is wide open to God’s ways, to God’s transforming love.
In another reflection by Pope Francis, he says that the “disciples display a ‘closed’ attitude when faced with a circumstance that does not fit their program…Jesus on the other hand, appears very free, fully open to the freedom of the Spirit of God, whose actions are not limited by any confines nor boundaries. Jesus wants to educate his disciples – and us today – on this inner freedom” (Angelus, September 30, 2018). These words summarize what it means to become a true disciple: conversion of a ‘closed attitude’, openness of mind and heart, only this can cultivate the demeanor that allows the Spirit to work inside and out in our lives. Let Jesus educate us as well to the ways we limit the actions of the Spirit in our lives. It is good to reflect, to be aware of our closed, narrow, judgmental attitudes, attitudes that divide and not unite, for such attitudes affect how we see others and how we see situations. The Spirit will not be confined. We have a Teacher, the Christ, who is present, ready to educate us into more freedom of spirit and heart. Let us have enough humility to be open to where we need change, no matter how small those changes are, unseen by others but seen by God.
Sr. Kathy DeVico, Abbess
Chapter Talk – 26th Sunday of the Year – September 29, 2024, cycle-B
