Unify in Jesus – Reflection on Mark 9:38-40
If you speak in Jesus’s name, anything is possible, and evil has difficulty penetrating into who you are. I do not often say so directly, but I am a joy-filled Christian baptized in the name of The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Jesus Christ is my Savior. Like many of you, I have had to sacrifice and extend myself much because I believe in Jesus. For instance, I look back and wonder how, in my fifties, I gave up all my free time and hobbies for five years to get an advanced degree in pastoral ministry. I believe each of us is called to minister when and where we can and that the Holy Spirit puts us where we need to be. My love of Jesus makes me tolerant and helps me break down walls, joining me purposefully to all creation. I pray daily for humankind to put less weight on dissimilarities and instead focus on how to unify in Jesus.
Saint John the Evangelist, James Tissot (full resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Ordinary Time Reflections
Mark 9:38-40 – Scripture*
Another Exorcist
38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” 39 But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40 Whoever is not against us is for us.
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this daily Gospel reading and considering this Lectio Divina reflection on Mark 9:38-40 – Unify in Jesus’s Love.
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Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities experience your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite the world’s distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Mark 9 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Primary Lectio Divina word or phrase: Unify in Jesus
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.