Emphasis Matters

Wednesday of Week 7 in Ordinary Time

Mark 9:38-40

 

John said to him,

“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, 

and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”

Jesus replied, 

“Do not prevent him. 

There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name 

who can at the same time speak ill of me.

For whoever is not against us is for us.”

What seems important about this brief scene 

is what Jesus could have said.

He could have said, “Whoever is not for us, is against us.”

That would have been a battle cry.

That would have effectively made the against side of the equation hefty indeed.

But he didn’t.

“Whoever is not against us is for us.” 

It’s roomy, and expansive, and inviting.  

An unthreatening emphasis.

A refusal to think small.

In my name…go ahead, use it!

And see what happens?