Feb 26 2025

First reading Ecclesiasticus 4:12-22

Whoever loves wisdom loves life

Wisdom brings up her own sons,

and cares for those who seek her.

Whoever loves her loves life,

those who wait on her early will be filled with happiness.

Whoever holds her close will inherit honour,

and wherever he walks the Lord will bless him.

Those who serve her minister to the Holy One,

and the Lord loves those who love her.

Whoever obeys her judges aright,

and whoever pays attention to her dwells secure.

If he trusts himself to her he will inherit her,

and his descendants will remain in possession of her;

for though she takes him at first through winding ways,

bringing fear and faintness on him,

plaguing him with her discipline until she can trust him,

and testing him with her ordeals,

in the end she will lead him back to the straight road

and reveal her secrets to him.

If he wanders away she will abandon him,

and hand him over to his fate.

Responsorial Psalm 118(119):165,168,171-172,174-175

O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Those who love your law have great peace,
and for them there is no stumbling block.
O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I keep your precepts and your decrees,
for all my ways are before you.
O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
My lips pour forth your praise,
because you teach me your statutes.
O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
May my tongue sing of your promise,
for all your commands are just.
O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
I long for your salvation, O Lord,
and your law is my delight.
O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.
Let my soul live to praise you,
and may your ordinances help me.
O Lord, great peace have they who love your law.

Gospel Mark 9:38-40

You must not stop anyone from working miracles in my name

John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.’

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Being inclusive

The apostle John was troubled because he saw a man performing miracles in Jesus’ name who did not belong to their group. Jesus’s answer was very clear: “You must not stop him. Anyone who is not against us is for us.” Jesus does not exclude anyone. He preaches to everyone and heals anyone who approaches Him with faith.

In our societies, exclusive clubs have many requirements for entry and participation, which promote exclusivity and social inequality. Sometimes, this happens also in the Church. There are some people who believe that God is confined to Catholics or Christians alone. However, we do not possess God – He is for everyone. Every person who serves the needs of others belongs to the Kingdom, and those who work for peace and reconciliation belong to the Kingdom. Everyone who works for goodness has Christ’s love within them. Let us look at those around us as brothers and sisters, children of our Father God.

Reflective question:
Is my attitude inclusive or exclusive toward those who are different from me?

Acknowledgment: Reflections are based on “Prayer for Living: The Word of God for Daily Prayer Year C” by Sr Maria Jose FMVD.