The Bigger Reality

HOMILY: Twenty Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

26 September 2021

Fr. Ricky Cañet Montañez, AA 

Politics is everywhere! It has overtaken everyone’s Covid-related conversations. It’s in the news and in the different social media platforms such as Facebook, YouTube, Tiktok, etc. We are saturated with all kinds of propaganda videos of people who present themselves as the leaders who would bring about the change we want for our nation. Expect more to come next month as the deadline of the filing of candidacy nears. There are just so many candidates to consider in terms of quantity, but I’d say not so much of the quality, if we must choose based on real performance and competence. In the spirit of honouring the freedom to run for public office and the freedom to select candidates, we allow those who lack the qualifications and competencies a chance to govern us, to represent us, and make decisions for our future. Another disadvantage of a multiparty-system is that it exacerbates our divisiveness as a people. We are quick to label one another according to our political affiliations or beliefs these days and it affects the way we perceive and deal with each other. Our prejudices, intolerances and biases do prevent us from recognising the true state of things and the truth of what is for the common good. It’s so easy to fail at seeing a reality bigger than our own. 

This Sunday’s readings present two scenarios showing how our intolerances can prevent us from considering another person’s point of view and seeing a bigger reality than our own. In the passage from the Book of Numbers, Joshua wanted Moses to stop Eldad and Medad from prophesying. Joshua was offended that those who received the spirit in a different way from the rest would be allowed to prophesy. Like Joshua in the First Reading, John also wanted to stop someone from casting out demons in Jesus’ name. To Joshua, Moses replied: “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all people of the Lord were prophets! Would that the Lord might bestow his spirit on them all!” (Numbers 11:29) Moses is plainly concerned about promoting the good of the entire people than preserving the exclusive prophetic authority bestowed on him and the elders. To his mind, if it would be better for the majority that they share their privilege as leaders, so be it. Similarly, Jesus teaches John that someone who does exorcisms successfully in His name is not an enemy but rather an ally. “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.” (Mark 9:39-40) Jesus directs John’s attention to what is essential — that the work of ushering in God’s reign be done regardless of whoever does it.    

Going back to our upcoming elections… dumadami na naman ang mga “Epals”. This Filipino slang for “mapapel,” refers to those who are attention grabbers, scene stealers, or people who crave a role (papel) in affairs that are not necessarily theirs to handle or decide. I don’t mean to depress anyone of us. If we look closely, there are many good, dedicated and honest people who really serve the people in the truest sense of being public servants. They have a true “passion for service”. They have always been committed to improving the quality of life of our people. Sadly, most of the time their efforts are unrecognised because they work quietly. There are also some who cannot look beyond their political affiliations to acknowledge the good others are capable of doing. Di ba dapat tulong-tulong sa ikabubuti ng karamihan? Shouldn’t we support whatever it is that is for the good of the majority? After all, no one has a monopoly of good ideas and good deeds. “Di porket di ikaw ang may pakana, bad idea na.” Some value the credit to their name and reputation so much that they say, “Gawa na lang tayo ng sariling project kasi project yan ng ibang tao.” Please! Let us set aside our egos and our need for adulation and self-promotion. 

Sadly, this also happens in the Church among her minsters. A parish has different organisations and ministries with different charisms. Wouldn’t it be great if we supported their projects instead of launching our own similar projects to prove we are productive, or so others can fawn over how generous our members are or how good we are at organising and mobilising our own teams? I would like to believe that this is one of the reasons why the Church has convened a synod on synodality come 2023 in Rome with its preparations on the diocesan level already underway. Pope Francis is giving Catholics worldwide a voice in deciding the future of our Church. This is a privileged moment to have a time of listening, dialogue and discernment so we can collectively respond as a Church to our mission of relevantly proclaiming the Good News of Jesus Christ to the entire world.

The times we live in remind us of the great importance of unity among us. In a society divided so greatly by political affiliations and opinions, we as Christians are called to focus less on what will further divide us. We have to keep in mind that we can only get through this pandemic if we foster more unity among ourselves and work together to find ways and means to ensure that all of humanity survives. Let us then enter more deeply into the prayer of Jesus and continue to work for that unity among us. We pray passionately, longingly, confidently, and humbly, “Lord, make us all one in your ways.”