The conception of closure and inquisition
(Mk 9:38-40)
It’s not strange that the holy Inquisition was born in the time of an absent ecclesiology.
The ‘leaven’ of the Pharisees and Herod (Mk 8:14) leads Christ's direct disciples to a sealed mentality - according to which if someone "is not one of us" [«he did not follow us» v. 38] he must be marginalized.
There is no trivial criterion that gives imprimatur of being able to discriminate “faithful” and “not”.
It’s worth: how important is the Person of the Son of man, for our life and in our daily choices?
For the Lord, what matters is not formal belonging - which tends to homologate.
In fact, we see that it’s precisely situations outside the lines that become a goad: they urge dull and opaque ‘christians’ to become a Seed.
Thus, even the "community" is not important because it considers itself as such.
The universal call to the promotion of humanity is divine: a wealth that flies over obstacles, a heritage of joy from wherever it comes.
If relegated and locked in the filing cabinets, the history of Salvation does not become life of the saved.
«But Jesus said: Do not prevent him. In fact, there is no one who does a powerful wonder in my name and immediately afterwards he can speak ill of me» (v.39).
With his intimates, the Master doesn’t use diplomatic language [expressions careful not to offend their susceptibility as experts].
The formation of the disciples is essential to the construction of the Kingdom with wide boundaries; above all, mental.
There are models in esoteric religions. Not here: only charisms, even very personal ones - a condition of true love.
We are ruled by God - the only one who knows what it arouses in each one, and ‘where to go’.
Jesus is the revelator and cornerstone of this happy, unthinkable News: but in the sense of intimate Motive and Motor, completely non-exterior - which calls the person in a way that seems incomprehensible to others.
Christ marks his friendship in the life of believers as the center and axis. Yet there are many gestures and sensitivities that the new world arouses, and likewise make his Presence leak out.
Nor does He tire of repeating what we do not wish to understand.
He orders only to ‘perceive’ the reality well (Mk 8:27-29) where the secret of God is hidden - that conformist thought is not even remotely able to imagine (Mk 8:30-35).
‘Standard’ has no specific weight for the excess of the adventure of Faith.
The imbalance of love is personal: it serenely admits the diversity and eccentric increase of life, that follows.
Such is the new awareness of the Mission made in Listening, and in respect not only towards the intelligence and culture of others, but also towards oneself.
No one has a monopoly on Grace, which is why we do not shrink our hearts from canons or fashions.
In the truth of the Good, the sense of ownership is out of place.
To internalize and live the message:
What weight do material interests, the empty rigidity, or uninhibited fantasies of those who (without even having a title) ape petty hierarchies and fulminate the different with mediocre impersonal sentences have on you?
How do you live the Word: «Who is not against, is for»?
The relationship with the excluded and their (modest) needs
(Mk 9:41-50)
With the typical language of oriental vivacity, Jesus' exhortations to coexistence overturn the hierarchy between the strong and the weak.
In religions we find throngs of marginalized people who cannot access the preparations of the pyramidal religion.
On the contrary, those who like Jesus are able to give everything, must not forget the small gestures, which speak of a gratuitous not "exemplary" - therefore authentic [limited in the day after day].
It is this coming to meet in everyday life - little praised - that enhances the climate and doesn’t push the weak to resentment, and evil.
The new ‘doctrine’ of Jesus is wise and aimed at making decisions. And it doesn’t lose enthusiasm; indeed, it already makes us experience the same quality of Life as the Eternal, moving away from what corrupts.
Those who are completely absorbed in “the great” and do not notice the details, never have a sense of the value of things, and sooner or later they will end up despising everything.
Jesus identifies with us (v.41) because he lives there: we are his real, incarnate Victory.
A stumbling block or even just a small stone in the shoe (v.42) leads the «mikròi» away from the path of Faith.
The «incipients» - in fact, those with little energy and relationships - are starting to take their first steps... they are still out of interest cartels.
Those who pretend and put themselves in the wrong way, or give dull and bad testimony, however, have more in store than a pebble: a grindstone around their neck and an unworthy end (deadly existence: v.42).
Not because God makes pay, but because they throw their lives away and ruin others, who finally walk away in repugnance - while the sharing adventure could be wonderful for everyone.
The choice - if there is one - is radical, or no longer convinces. And the smell that is released is worse than stinking (v.43).
Instead, the community in which joy is experienced is like that pinch of sapidity and wisdom that makes people's spontaneous vital wave full - beautiful.
It was customary in the religions of the empire to think this, even in the name of the law... so what is the difference?
«Having salt in ourselves» (v.50) means that in Christ we can give minimal and usual things that tone and ‘taste’ capable of transmitting to others the flavor of a life as saved - starting ‘from inside’.
In the culture of the ancient Middle East, «salt» was related to God and therefore also had a religious importance: a symbol of durability [for preserving food] and courage [flavor, seasoning, purification].
Salt had the power to cast out demons, which corrupted life and gave off stench. For this reason it was widely used in religious sacrifices and in establishing Alliances.
In short, the salt was a guarantee of genuine durability.
But the Christian salt is only... Love of neighbor and the ability to correspond to one's own Vocation.
If it were not there, the very character of life in Christ would disappear.
Therefore the «salt pact» is essential for credibility, for the announcement, for the standard of living; for the very survival of the communities, and their unmistakable touch.
No other defense work from the outside - inquisition, prevention or repression - can guarantee the survival of the Church.
For our human, spiritual and life progress, Jesus takes sides perhaps not as we would expect - because no one is given the exclusivity.
[26th Sunday in O.T. (B) September 29, 2024].
