Here is the text of the reflection I shared with those who came to pray with us today: some thoughts about the truly human interactions that took place among the disciples. They help us to realize that we too can follow him.
The disciples have been travelling with Jesus and, along the way, he has been teaching them a number of things. They have arrived in Capernaum and they are talking together about the lessons that Jesus was teaching them. The disciples are really eager students. They want to understand what Jesus is teaching them, but sometimes, their enthusiasm gets the best of them.
John – the brother of James, the son of Zebedee – says: Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to stop him because he was not following us (Mk 9:38). We can almost hear the enthusiasm in his voice, mixed with a bit of hesitation, as if he’s trying to prove to Jesus that he’s done something really good, but at the same time, looking for his approval. Have you ever encountered this situation in your own family, or in your workplace? Have you ever found yourself in John’s position, eagerly trying to impress someone while at the same time hoping that you’re on the right track to understanding how things are supposed to be?
Poor John. Can you imagine what he must have felt like when Jesus responded, not by saying: Right John, now you’re catching on. No, Jesus replies in a surprising fashion. He says: Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me (Mk 9:39). I can almost hear the disciples muttering among themselves: But what does he mean? We’re the ones who he’s been teaching. We’re the ones who have been learning about this new kingdom, we’re the ones who are supposed to be doing miracles, we’re the ones who he has chosen to be the leaders ... Their enthusiasm was getting the better of them, and Jesus had to stop them in their tracks. He had to revise his lesson plan so he could help them to understand that the work God was calling them to do was much bigger than their own egos.
Human beings have always had difficulty grasping this concept: the work that God is calling us to do is much bigger than our own egos. Even in the time of the Prophets, when the Lord came down out of the cloud and took some of the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders (Num 11:25), they were surprised that their ability to prophesy was limited ... but what was even more surprising was the fact that two other people, who were not among the elders, had also received the spirit of God and were able to prophesy (cf Num 11:26-27). Here again, the work that God was calling the Israelite people to accomplish was much bigger than they could comprehend.
The same is true today. When we look at our own lives, when we ask ourselves: what work does God want me to accomplish?, some of us might think that we have already done wonderful things: and we have. Some of us might think that we’re retired and so it’s time to rest, but God’s plans for us are much larger in scope than we can comprehend. This isn’t meant to scare anyone, but rather to keep us vigilant because God is full of surprises, but they are always accompanied with the gift of joy. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do, and to give you the strength and the wisdom to accomplish it in his name.
God’s work
The disciples have been travelling with Jesus and, along the way, he has been teaching them a number of things. They have arrived in Capernaum and they are talking together about the lessons that Jesus was teaching them. The disciples are really eager students. They want to understand what Jesus is teaching them, but sometimes, their enthusiasm gets the best of them.
John – the brother of James, the son of Zebedee – says: Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to stop him because he was not following us (Mk 9:38). We can almost hear the enthusiasm in his voice, mixed with a bit of hesitation, as if he’s trying to prove to Jesus that he’s done something really good, but at the same time, looking for his approval. Have you ever encountered this situation in your own family, or in your workplace? Have you ever found yourself in John’s position, eagerly trying to impress someone while at the same time hoping that you’re on the right track to understanding how things are supposed to be?
Poor John. Can you imagine what he must have felt like when Jesus responded, not by saying: Right John, now you’re catching on. No, Jesus replies in a surprising fashion. He says: Do not stop him, for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me (Mk 9:39). I can almost hear the disciples muttering among themselves: But what does he mean? We’re the ones who he’s been teaching. We’re the ones who have been learning about this new kingdom, we’re the ones who are supposed to be doing miracles, we’re the ones who he has chosen to be the leaders ... Their enthusiasm was getting the better of them, and Jesus had to stop them in their tracks. He had to revise his lesson plan so he could help them to understand that the work God was calling them to do was much bigger than their own egos.
Human beings have always had difficulty grasping this concept: the work that God is calling us to do is much bigger than our own egos. Even in the time of the Prophets, when the Lord came down out of the cloud and took some of the spirit that was on Moses and put it on the seventy elders (Num 11:25), they were surprised that their ability to prophesy was limited ... but what was even more surprising was the fact that two other people, who were not among the elders, had also received the spirit of God and were able to prophesy (cf Num 11:26-27). Here again, the work that God was calling the Israelite people to accomplish was much bigger than they could comprehend.
The same is true today. When we look at our own lives, when we ask ourselves: what work does God want me to accomplish?, some of us might think that we have already done wonderful things: and we have. Some of us might think that we’re retired and so it’s time to rest, but God’s plans for us are much larger in scope than we can comprehend. This isn’t meant to scare anyone, but rather to keep us vigilant because God is full of surprises, but they are always accompanied with the gift of joy. Ask God to show you what he wants you to do, and to give you the strength and the wisdom to accomplish it in his name.
La volonté de Dieu
Les disciples ont voyagé avec Jésus et, en cours de route, il leur a enseigné un certain nombre de choses. Ils sont arrivés à Capharnaüm et ils parlaient ensemble des leçons que Jésus leur avait enseignées. Les disciples étaient vraiment des étudiants ardents. Ils voulaient comprendre ce que Jésus leur enseignait, mais parfois, leur enthousiasme prenait le dessus.
Jean - le frère de Jacques, le fils de Zébédée – dit à Jésus: Maître, nous avons vu quelqu'un expulser les démons en ton nom; nous l’en avons empêché, car il n’est pas de ceux qui nous suivaient (Mc 9,38). On peut presque entendre l’enthousiasme de sa voix, et aussi un peu d’hésitation, comme s’il essayait de prouver à Jésus qu’il avait fait quelque chose de vraiment bien, mais en même temps on pourrait dire qu’il cherchait son approbation. Avez-vous déjà rencontré cette situation dans votre propre famille ou sur votre lieu de travail? Vous êtes-vous déjà trouvé dans la même position que Jean, essayant avec impatience d’impressionner quelqu'un tout en même temps espérant que vous êtes sur la bonne voie pour comprendre la situation?
Pauvre Jean. Pouvez-vous imaginer comment il a dû se sentir quand Jésus a répondu, non pas en disant: Bravo Jean, maintenant tu comprends. Non, Jésus a répondu de manière surprenante. Il a dit: Ne l’en empêchez pas, car celui qui fait un miracle en mon nom ne peut pas, aussitôt après, mal parler de moi (Mc 9,39). Je peux presque entendre les disciples marmonner entre eux: Mais que veut-il dire? Nous sommes ceux qu’il a enseignés. Nous sommes ceux qui ont appris à connaître ce nouveau royaume, nous sommes ceux qui sont sensés faire des miracles, nous sommes ceux qu’il a choisis pour être les chefs ... Leur enthousiasme a eu raison d’eux, et Jésus a dû les arrêter dans leurs traces. Il devait réviser son plan de cours pour pouvoir les aider à comprendre que les attentes de Dieu surpassaient leurs propres ego.
Les êtres humains ont toujours rencontré de la difficulté à comprendre ce concept: le plan de Dieu est beaucoup plus grand que notre propre ego. Même à l'époque des prophètes, quand le Seigneur descendit dans la nuée ... et prit une part de l'esprit qui reposait sur Moïse et le mit sur les soixante-dix anciens (Nombres 11:25), ils ont été surpris que leur capacité de prophétie fût limitée … mais ce qui était encore plus surprenant c’était le fait que deux autres personnes, qui ne faisaient pas partie des anciens, avaient également reçu l'Esprit de Dieu et étaient capables de prophétiser (cf Nombres 11: 26-27). Là encore, la tâche que le Seigneur a confiée aux israélites dépassait les limites de leur compréhension.
Quand nous regardons nos propres vies, quand nous nous demandons: quel est le plan de Dieu pour moi?, certains d'entre nous pourraient penser que nous avons déjà accompli des choses merveilleuses: et nous les avons faites. Certains d’entre nous pourraient penser que nous sommes à la retraite et donc il est temps de nous reposer, mais les plans de Dieu pour nous sont beaucoup plus vastes que ce que nous pouvons comprendre. Cela n’a pas pour but de faire peur à qui que ce soit, mais plutôt de nous garder vigilants, car Dieu est plein de surprises, mais elles sont toujours accompagnées du don de la joie. Demandons au Seigneur de nous dévoiler ses plans, ce qu'il veut que nous fassions et demandons-lui de nous donner la force ainsi que la sagesse de l'accomplir en son nom.
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