Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, B

	Numbers 11: 25-29
	Psalm 19
	James 5: 1-6
	Mark 9: 38-43, 45, 47-48

The readings for today connect at the idea of God’s plans never quite fitting inside our 
understanding of them.  In the First Reading from Numbers, Moses appoints seventy 
elders to assist him in governing the Children of Israel.  Two of those men were not at the 
Tent of Meeting when God bestowed His spirit on the elders—but they ended up 
receiving the Spirit anyway.  Joshua, Moses’ right-hand man, urged that they be silenced; 
Moses’ response is most generous:  “Are you jealous for my sake?  Would that all the 
Lord’s people were prophets!”  The relation of the Responsorial Psalm to this reading is 
perhaps found in the last stanza, where the psalmist prays, “From wanton sin especially, 
restrain your servant.”  In this category, pride and arrogance may fall—the sins of which 
Moses was definitely not guilty.  In the Gospel, the disciples come to Jesus and tell him 
that they have found a man (not one of their company) who is casting out demons by 
using his Name.  This story is combined with Jesus’ exhortation about not giving scandal 
to the “little ones who believe in me.”  Juxtaposed against the comment “Anyone who is 
not against us, is for us,” it gives the impression that the second part of the Gospel is a 
commentary on the first part.

St. Augustine, in preaching on this passage, says:  

“This situation was in some ways parallel to that of one who, while not yet embracing the 
sacraments of Christ, nevertheless esteems the name of ‘Christian’ so far as to welcome 
Christians and to help them—for no other reason than they are Christians…such persons 
are already being guided by the mercy of God in such a way that they may also come to 
receive loftier gifts…[they] are more profitable servants—even before they become part 
of the Body of Christ—than those who (while already partaking of the sacraments) 
recommend courses of action which are only fitted to drag others along with them into 
eternal punishment.”   Harmony of the Gospels 4.6

The continuous reading from James condemns the rich who abuse their position by 
paying unfair wages to their employees.  James puts this in the same language that was 
used in the Old Testament, warning the Children of Israel against abusing the widow, the 
orphan, and the stranger, saying, “their cries have reached the ears of the Lord of Hosts.”  
Social justice is not something invented in the twentieth century:  it is an imperative of 
being a follower of Jesus Christ.

This hymn is based on today’s Scriptures:  MYM#25
From Moses, leader God-inspired,
The Lord took Spirit's pow'r,
Bestowing it on those assigned
Who spoke God's word that hour.

But two, though chosen, were away,
Began to prophesy;
And Moses, hearing it, rejoiced
That God was praised thereby!

Christ has confirmed this insight bold
To open wide our hearts:
"Those not against are for us still,"
He told us at the start.

All that we own, we have from God
That we might serve God well--
But gifts misused, stored up, refused,
Lead users on to hell.

God, give us grace and change our hearts
That all we do and say,
That ev'rything we have from you
Be shared along your way.

        CM
        suggested tune:  New Britain

Propers from the Roman Gradual

Introit:  Omnia que fecisti (Dn. 3: 8,6,7,20,19; Ps. 119:1)
Everything that you have done to us, O Lord,
you have done to us in true judgment,
for we have sinned against you and not obeyed your commandments;
but give glory unto your Name,
and deal with us according to the multitude of your marvelous loving-kindnesses.
	Happy are they whose way is blameless,
	who walk in the law of the Lord.

Offertory:  Super flumina (Ps. 137:1)
By the waters of Babylon we sat us down and wept,
when we remembered you, O Zion.

Communion:  Memento verbi tui (Ps. 119:49-50)
Remember your word unto your servant, O Lord,
in which you have given me hope:
this has been my comfort in my lowliness and trouble.

Propers from the Simple Gradual

The suite of antiphons and psalms from Ordinary Time VII 
(BFW 275–280, as well as BFW 250–253 and 262–264) — 
reverence and love for God — is especially appropriate.

Response: Alleluia psalms BFW 463 or BFW 464; 
Gospel acclamation: BFW 462
Communion: BFW 273 (O help me, Lord, and I shall me saved . . .) 
    or BFW 279 (I long for you, my Savior . . . )