GOD’S POWER KNOWS NO BOUNDARIES

Homily for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B

Fr. Ugochukwu Ugwoke, ISch

Biblical Texts: Numbers 11:25-29; James 5:1-6; Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

The readings for this Sunday bring back a flood of memories, as they remind me of my first ever homily as a deacon about 6 years ago. On that very day, I had preached on the inclusivity of God’s love and how God works through everyone, a theme that has shaped my life as a priest.

Today’s first reading from the Book of Numbers tells the story of Moses and the seventy elders. God took some of the Spirit that was upon Moses and bestowed it on the elders, allowing them to prophesy. However, two men, Eldad and Medad, who were not in the designated assembly, also received the Spirit and began to prophesy in the camp. When Joshua, Moses’ assistant noticed it, he urged Moses to stop them. But Moses, in his wisdom, responded: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets! Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!”

These words from Moses are a powerful declaration that God’s Spirit is not limited to a selected few. God’s desire is that all people would share in his Spirit and participate in his work. This reading challenges any notion of exclusivity in our faith and dealings. It invites us to recognize that God’s grace and power are given to all who are open to receiving it, regardless of their position, status, or background. This passage calls us to avoid jealousy and possessiveness. We must be open to recognize that God works through many people, even those outside of our familiar circles. The Holy Spirit cannot be controlled or boxed in; the Spirit moves freely and blows where he wills (John 3:8). Are we open to seeing God’s Spirit at work in unexpected places and people or do we, like Joshua, sometimes feel threatened when we see others exercising gifts that we think are reserved for a certain group?

In the gospel reading, John approached Jesus with a concern similar to that of Joshua in the first reading. He told Jesus that they saw someone driving out demons in his name, but because the person was not part of their group, they tried to stop him. Jesus’ response was clear: “Do not prevent him. Whoever is not against us is for us.” Here, Jesus emphasized that the mission of God is bigger than any one group or community. Just as Moses was open to God’s Spirit moving through Eldad and Medad, Jesus taught his disciples that God’s power and authority are not exclusive to the Twelve or to any other specific group.

This Gospel passage like the first reading, invites us to move beyond narrow-mindedness, break down human-made boundaries, and adopt a spirit of inclusivity in our faith. It challenges us to avoid an “us vs. them” mentality in the Church or in our communities. The truth is that God’s work is often carried out by people we might not expect. The key is that they are working in the name of Jesus. We should be able to celebrate the good being done in the world, even if it is not done within our immediate circle.

Furthermore, Jesus gave a stern warning against causing “one of these little ones who believe in me to sin.” The ‘little ones’ can refer to those who are vulnerable in faith, or the oppressed that James spoke about in the second reading. Jesus warned that any action that leads others away from God is a grave sin. Authentic discipleship therefore demands that we eliminate anything in our lives that causes us to stumble or leads others into sin. This may mean letting go of certain habits, relationships, or even attitudes that are contrary to the Gospel.

Lastly, Let us keep in mind that God’s love is not confined to a selected group but embraces all of humanity, regardless of our differences. Like the sun that rises on both the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45), God’s grace pours forth, inviting all people to experience God’s love and be transformed by it. This challenges us to look at others with the same openness and generosity, knowing that God is constantly working in and through everyone, whether or not we see it, and whether or not we accept them.