Wednesday 26 February 2025 - Sharing in this work

Wednesday 26 February 2025

Today is Wednesday the 26th of February in the 7th week of Ordinary Time.    One Hope Project sing, ‘In Your Truth’. As you listen, notice the ways in which you are trusting in Jesus’ truth in this season...     I’ve found hope in one unchanging  I’ve found a friend in the great I Am  I’ve found peace in the Lord Almighty  Perfect love meets me as I am    In Your truth I am found  In Your arms I am home  In Your grace I’m restored  In Your love is where I belong    I’ve been saved by the King of Kingdoms  I’ve found life in the Risen One  I’m set free by the Lord of justice  Perfect peace tеlls me who I am    In Your loving arms  I am safe and sеcure  In Your loving arms  I’m adored  Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Mark.    Mark 9:38-40    John said to him, ‘Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.’ But Jesus said, ‘Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterwards to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us.    At the start of this short passage, it looks as if the disciple John thinks that Jesus’s followers ought to have a monopoly on exorcism. No-one else should be allowed to cast out demons. Why might he think this?    Jesus, by contrast, seems content that all sorts of people might be sharing in this work. Why, do you think, does Jesus take the opposite view from John’s?    Notice that both John and Jesus are talking about people who cast out demons in the name of Jesus. What difference might this make to the debate?    As you listen again, notice why Jesus thinks that this unnamed exorcist should not be stopped.    Finish your prayer by responding to Jesus’s final words here: “Whoever is not against us is for us”.    Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end.  Amen.