September 30, Ordinary 26B (Mark 9:38-50)

Some days I think that the church has learned so little of what Jesus endeavored to teach us. We’ve become very good at saying “I’m not that kind of Christian” from every side of the things that divide us. Jesus has something radical to say about those who might be doing things a bit differently than the Twelve and their group: “Whoever is not against us is for us.”

Several years ago, when GPS mapping devices were still relatively new, my wife and I drove from New Hampshire to Maryland. On the way down, GPS kept us on course with no issues. On the way home, however, traffic was heavy in New York City, and the GPS voice (which we call “Map Lady”) told us to get off the highway. We thought Map Lady might take us around the traffic, so we obligingly took the exit she indicated. Before we knew it, we were at Map Lady’s mercy; we didn’t know where we were or how to get back to the highway. She took us by the entrance to the Bronx Zoo before eventually leading us back to the same traffic-jammed highway, just a couple miles ahead of where we exited almost an hour before. We still have no idea why Map Lady took us on a slightly guided tour of the Bronx. But this has become the measure for deciding whether to follow Map Lady or stay the course. We don’t want another Bronx Zoo incident.

When the disciples tattle to Jesus about those other folks who are healing in Jesus’ name, they are in danger of taking an unnecessary detour off the main route. In my mind, they sound like the child who sat behind me in third grade and told the teacher every time I colored outside the lines. Can you hear them? Jesus? they say. He ignores them, because he knows what’s coming. Jesus, a little louder and a little more insistent. Then, Jesus! He turns to them impatiently, and they intone with that know-it-all edge, Jesus! Those people over there, you know, the ones we don’t know? Well, they are healing and casting out demons, but not the way we do it. Make them stop before they ruin everything.