“Do Good for Others”

In this Sunday’s gospel passage, the apostles are a little confused. How can someone who does not belong to our group perform the same wonders or even greater than those we have performed? If someone successfully carries out the mission we are called to carry out, is it cause for rejoicing or concern? Who is authorized to use the name of Jesus? John and his companions are unhappy because the other person does not belong to their group.

How do we understand who is with us and who is against us? At certain times, Christians feel that we are the only beloved children of God, and people who do not belong to our group and our religion are outsiders who cannot benefit from the love and mercy of God.

But as we walk, we realize that many generous, sincere people also walk alongside us. We have not seen them because we have been looking through the lens of our presumption of being the one true Church and the only true disciples. Envy and jealousy prevent us from recognizing the good done by those who are different from us.

In our communities, many serve our brothers and sisters, carrying out tasks with diligence and generosity; however, jealousy and envy often ruin our efforts. All our efforts and ministries stop being a service and become a means of affirming ourselves, our social status, and our ego.

The evangelist reminds us that we must do everything possible so that our lives are beneficial to the community. God has blessed us with eyes, hands, and legs to observe and reach the needs of our brothers and sisters and do good for them. Whoever wastes his opportunity to do good in this world loses the unique opportunity that God has offered him forever.

The Gospel talks about cutting off your hand or leg or even removing your eye if we use them to do evil and do not use them to do good. This is a call to eliminate our wrong behaviors, attitudes, lifestyles, and ideologies so we do not allow our lives to go to waste.

May the Lord always give you His peace.

Fr. Lalo Jara, OFM
Pastor, Mission San Luis Rey Parish