At the intersection of West Lake Street and Blaisdell Avenue, a young man dressed in a long black overcoat, wearing chartreuse colored tennis shoes was standing on a wooden box and screaming about the end of the world and the need to repent.
I was waiting for the light to change to green, but I was in no hurry for it to do so. The young man, with enormous dreadlocks, seemed overheated in the 90-degree weather. People walking by appeared to be unmoved by his message of gloom and doom. I watched and listened until the honking of a horn jarred me back into reality. Basic traffic etiquette signaled the need to move on. It was then that I noticed the word, REPAINT, in bold red letters on his soap box. While we have no written records of Jesus’ spelling capabilities, his preaching message was clear: “Repent, not Repaint! The Kingdom of God is at hand!”
In our gospel reading for the Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Mark (9:38-43), Jesus chastises his disciple’s narrow view of those who could lead others into the Kingdom. When John reported a man casting out demons in Jesus’ name, he tried to stop him. Surprisingly, Jesus said:
“Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward of the Kingdom.”
Jesus was not threatened when “unauthorized people” took initiative to help others. His wider view of “capable prophets” was a bold invitation to reach beyond the narrow-mindedness of his own disciples and search out tolerance: “Whoever is not against us is for us.” Rising above the petty jealousy and exaggerated exclusivity of his disciples, Jesus warns against self-entrapment and self-righteous behavior: “If any one of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea.”
Jesus’ message remains clear: Anyone claiming to be a disciple must heed Jesus’ warning about restricting the ability of “doing good” or causing scandal by leading others into temptation. In a series of no-nonsense statements, Jesus offers dire warnings to people in power and authority who create obstacles for others seeking the Kingdom. Better to enter the Kingdom minus an eye, foot, or hand than to “Be thrown into hell where the worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.”
Every parable/story Jesus used in his preaching either revealed or concealed an invitation to the Kingdom of God. A parable is intended to elicit the listener’s response. In today’s parable we hear Jesus telling his disciples to think beyond themselves and to graciously welcome the stranger: “Whoever is not against us is for us. For I truly tell you, whoever gives a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward (Kingdom).”
Calling his disciples to be “open minded” to the truth of his presence in “unauthorized persons” is an affirmation that the truth of God can be found outside the constricted perceptions of clericalism or pompous self-serving institutions. To move beyond exclusive prestige and entitlement thinking, Jesus invites his disciples to abandon elitist behavior. Jesus was in total opposition with smug institutional policies that exclude the “stranger.” In very frank words, Jesus warns: “If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck, and you were thrown into the sea.” I wonder if there is any chance of starting a millstone business. It could be a very lucrative operation.
Both the readings from the Book of Numbers (11:25-29) and from the Epistle of James (5:1-6) challenge the traditional mindset of exclusivity. Moses is challenged by one of his chosen men who complained that Eldad and Medad, who were acting like prophets, were not included on the list of those capable of prophesying. Moses turned to him saying, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the Lord’s people were Prophets, and that the Lord would put his spirit upon them.”
In a similar assessment, James challenges those who have become comfortable in their luxurious lifestyles while the poor and the powerless wallow in their need. “You have lived on the earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts at the expense of others. You have laid up treasure for the last days, but your gold and silver have rusted.” James confronts the shallowness of this short-sighted way of thinking and gives the “victimizers” a chance to change their ways before it is too late. Each of our readings invite us to search beyond a lifestyle of exclusive prestige and challenge us to seek a ministerial perspective reflective of Jesus’ compassion.
Moving beyond the convoluted and bureaucratic boundaries of institutions that put obstacles in the way of the “little ones,” we must, at the request of Jesus, remain ready to affirm that which is good no matter where it comes from. Condemning others based on their color, creed, gender, sexual orientation, or economic status is an invitation to get in line for a millstone. Recognizing that the unique challenge of the Church is to mine the riches of our differences, we can discover his remarkable insight (Matthew 6:21; Luke 12:34): “Remember, where your treasure is, there your heart is also.” Rediscovering the real treasure of the Church is an invitation to softening our hearts and opening our minds to the stranger and the riches of the Kingdom of God.
Maybe if I hurry, I might catch up with the preacher in the chartreuse tennis shoes and thank him for the reminder to “Repent.” He was not preaching in a church, but his message captured my heart. Indeed, the Kingdom of God is at hand and where your treasure is, there your heart is also.
Peace, Fr. Joe Gillespie, O.P.