Sometimes we can imagine that Moses did it all by himself. He just led the way and the people simply followed him. However, the first reading this morning show us a heavily burdened Moses, a man who knows that he cannot do everything the Lord asked of him by himself. So, he shares with others that same Spirit of the Lord that he had first received. He shares his responsibility, to lead, to point the way to freedom.
But this Spirit of God cannot be “contained”, “captured” like a Genie in a bottle. The Spirit of God is a free spirit. Moses is alerted to the fact that the Spirit of God has been given to some people who never filled out the application and went to the training classes! Moses, on hearing this, doesn’t try to jump in and control the Holy Spirit. He only wishes that the same Spirit would spill over into the whole People of Israel and stir them up also to give God glory.
In the Gospel we have just heard, our Blessed Lord who is the New Moses of the New Testament encounters a similar event. He receives reports from his apostles that there are individuals outside their circle, using his name to cast out demons. The Lord does not send his “heavies” out to rein them in for questioning over the copyright of his divine name. Our Lord rejoices that the Kingdom of God is, in some manner, being extended and manifested.
What does this say about us? There is always the temptation to wait for the pope, the bishops or the pastors and priests of Christ’s Church to take the initiative and lead the way. It is, however, the right and the duty of every Christian to, not only seek holiness in their own life but to be an instrument of holiness in the lives of others. This is not only your right and duty – but it also your responsibility. Sometimes, because the lack of leadership or lack of credibility and trust in those who should be leading the way, oftentimes, the faithful should never be afraid to be themselves examples of holiness, pillars of wisdom and heroic examples of perseverance.
Before we engage in any new exercise, we are often advised to consult our doctor. The doctor of our souls is found through the Sacrament of Confession - to detox our souls from the poison of sin and anger, and the Sacrament of the Holy Altar which allows grace to move us in the direction of heaven.
So, do not be afraid of the battlefield, even if you find yourself alone. Do not despair. You belong to Christ and so does the Church. May our Blessed Mother, the Queen of the Apostles and of angels, always see in you and me, not only able-bodied disciples who take after her son but also the very image of him in a world he was not hesitant to die for love of.
26th Sunday of Ordinary Time
26th Sunday of Ordinary Time