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Gospel Reading for February 26, 2025 – Mark 9: 38-40
NOT EXCLUSIVE
John said to Jesus, “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.”
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The word “catholic” means universal, world-wide and all inclusive. When we describe our Church as Catholic, it means that our Church is NOT EXCLUSIVE. Everyone is welcome to be a member of the Church that Christ established through St. Peter, the first Bishop of Rome. However, it should not be our concern if there are others who also follow Christ and do the good works he did while on earth. As Jesus said in the gospel of today, “. . . whoever is not against us is for us.” This is why after Vatican II, the Catholic Church recognized ECUMENISM, from the Greek word “oikoumene”, meaning “the whole inhabited world” which aims to bring unity to Christian Churches all over the world.
What we should be concerned about is if we truly follow Christ in word and in deed. We may be Christians only by name because we live our lives not in consonance with the teachings of Christ.
Lord Jesus, help us be resolute in our decision to follow you in the midst of adversities!
