Lenten Reflection - March 10, 2008

“Now John answered Him, saying, ‘Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side.” - Mark 9:38-40

Reflection by Greg Davis

For me, this is an important statement about who Christ welcomes, and what He permits in His name. Christ expresses a straightforward, basic concept, much later plainly stated by St. Peter, who says, “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.”

The apostles try to protect Christ by forbidding a non-follower to cast out demons in Jesus’ name. But Christ needs no such protection. He accepts, nay, welcomes the non-follower’s actions, those works done in Christ’s name.

Jesus tells his followers not to forbid the man, because the results, the evidence of that man’s actions will keep him, or anyone who does “a mighty work” in Christ’s name, from speaking ill of Christ. Jesus plainly tells the apostles not to forbid him to continue, because “He that is not against us is for us.”

What a concept! It’s amazing in its simplicity. The point is not that the man casts out demons, but that he does so in Jesus’ name. Doing good works in Christ’s name is open to everyone, open to anyone.

Will not Christ accept all who honestly work in His name? Do your works with Jesus’ name on your lips and in your hearts, and be always acceptable to Him.