Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

0:00 The disciple, John, makes the fundamental mistake. 0:04 He says, 0:05 “we saw someone who is not one of us casting out devils, 0:11 so we stopped them." 0:13 John is showing clearly his mentality. 0:16 He thinks that the mission 0:18 is about the people following them. 0:23 The mission of Jesus Christ 0:26 was not about anyone following them, 0:29 it's about following Him. 0:33 And the mindset of John shows one we see far too much today 0:39 one of exclusivity and one where the importance 0:43 is on the one doing the mission, 0:45 rather than on Jesus himself. 0:49 We see much division among our Christian brothers and sisters today. 0:54 Many perhaps believe that other Christian faiths 0:58 have nothing or very little to offer. 1:02 And if people are not a part of our church or faith, 1:06 they really don’t have anything to say. 1:10 But it's this very understanding that Jesus challenges in John. 1:15 Jesus says, 1:17 “no one who works a miracle I my name is likely to speak ill of me. 1:22 Anyone who is not against us, is for us.” 1:28 Particularly as we journey through the Synod, 1:30 where listening is really at the heart. 1:34 Let us always be intent firstly 1:37 on listening to the message of Jesus Christ, 1:40 risen from the dead, 1:42 who welcomes us into this new way of life. 1:46 Let that message be at the heart of what we hear, 1:50 and let's focus less on who's proclaiming the message.