Commentary on the Gospel of
Good works are not copyrighted!
The disciples were fixed on an idea: We alone can do good, because we alone possess the truth, and those who do not belong to us cannot possess the truth and therefore, can do no good!
When the disciples saw someone who was not part of their group casting out demons in the name of Jesus, they thought it was not right. In today’s terms, we call it intellectual property rights or copyright issues! But Jesus corrected them and asked them. He wanted them to understand that everyone can do good, not just those who were part of their group. Jesus broadened their horizons and showed them that anyone, even those who are not part of their group, can do good things.
“The Lord, in his image, created us all.” This universal truth is the foundation of our shared humanity. If “he does good, let all of us keep this commandment in our heart: do good and do not do evil. This commandment is for everyone, without exception.”
The belief that only a select few can do good is a dangerous form of closed-mindedness. Iterects barriers, leading to conflict and even violence in the name of God. The truth is, the Lord's redemption extends to all, not just to Catholics, but to everyone, including atheists. It is the blood of Christ that unites us all as children of God, breaking down the walls of exclusivity and fostering a broader understanding of goodness.
It is good for us to reflect on this episode and to perform a small examination of conscience. There is a sort of fear of ‘competition’ — and this is bad: the fear of competition —, that someone may steal “my market” and “my followers”, and we are thus unable to appreciate the good that others do: it is not good because he is ‘not one of us’, they say. It is a form of self-referentiality.
