Scripture Study for

Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Understanding the Word

By Br. John R. Barker, OFM

As Israel wanders in the wilderness on the way to the Promised  Land, they become increasingly discontented, and complain so much  that Moses cries out to God to end his life (Numbers 11:14). God  responds by endowing seventy elders with the same spirit enjoyed by  Moses, so “that they may share the burden of the people with you.”  The elders begin to prophesy around the tent of meeting, that is, in  the designated area where God speaks to Moses. Joshua’s concern  about Eldad and Medad appears to be related to the fact that they  are prophesying in the camp, outside this designated zone. Moses, on  the other hand, is not concerned about where prophesying happens;  he is just glad that it does. 

James continues to develop his teaching regarding the Christian’s  relationship to wealth. He has already admonished against  privileging the wealthy over the poor (2:1–4) and following the  grasping, covetous wisdom of the world (3:13–4:3). Now he turns  toward the rich themselves with classical warnings: their wealth is  transient and may not last through their lives. When they die, they  will discover the true wealth they possess. James assumes here that  the wealthy have gained their riches through injustice, either by  mistreating workers or by subverting justice to their advantage. In  either case, in their wealth they have become complacent, just like  satisfied cows, oblivious to the fact that they are fattening themselves  up for slaughter.

The Gospel reading addresses the themes of tolerance and  intolerance. In the first part, Jesus admonishes his followers to be  less concerned about who “follows us” and more concerned about  what they are doing. In doing good “in [Jesus’] name,” or for  the sake of Christ, those who may not be part of the recognized  followers are nevertheless doing something that pleases God. Sin, on  the other hand, does not please God and cannot be tolerated. Those  who muddle along in life without ever striving to eradicate whatever  separates them from God will find themselves unable to enter into  the reign of God. God loves the good, no matter who does it, but  evil cannot be tolerated, for it opposes the very good that God loves. 

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