“Living with faith and love, conviction and commitment – and becoming worthy to be truly called as the “children of our Heavenly Father!”

(Based on Sir 4:11-19 and Mk 9:38-40 – Wednesday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time, Year 1)

The year was 1952.

The Boston Symphony Orchestra was holding auditions.

The judges sat at a long table, their scoresheets ready.

One by one, musicians walked in – violinists, cellists, flutists – each trying to earn a place in one of the world’s most prestigious orchestras.

But there was an unspoken rule: Women almost never got selected!

Not because they lacked talent…
… but because the judges believed that only men could truly master orchestral music.

And then, something changed.

The orchestra introduced a radical experiment.

They placed a large curtain between the judges and the ‘auditioning’ musicians.

Now, the panel could only hear the music – they didn’t know if it was a man or a woman playing the musical instrument

And this transformed the entire scenario!

Suddenly women started getting selected.

For the first time, the judges realized their mistake.

They weren’t choosing the best musicians before…
… they were selecting based on their own bias!

How often do we do the same in our own lives?

How often do we think that God’s power is limited to our way of doing things?

Let’s understand that in God’s eyes, it’s not about who holds the title – it’s about who plays the music.

Not the name… but the mission.
Not the group… but the grace.

Are we listening to the music of God’s work – even when it comes from unexpected people and situations?
… or are we too busy checking ‘who’s playing the instrument?’

The incident in today’s Gospel focuses on how Jesus opens the minds of His disciples to “not get limited” by peripherals and externalities…
… instead to realise that God is not bound by our labels; rather, He is limitless in His love!

One of the disciples – John – told Jesus: “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following Us” (Mk 9:38)

An act of demoniac-healing was being conducted by one who was “not in Jesus’ group”

The disciples were alarmed by it…
… they felt it their duty to forbid it, since that man was outside their “boundary”
… they would have felt within themselves, “How can he who is not with us, do such things?”
… there might perhaps even been a tinge of jealousy, since sometime back, they themselves couldn’t heal a possessed-boy (Mk 9:18)

This incident of the Gospel has a marked parallel in the Book of Numbers 11:25-29

The Lord had spoken to Moses and bestowed the spirit on seventy chosen elders

Among them, two named Eldad and Medad were not in the gathering, but left in the camp
Joshua, came rushing to Moses and complained, “Stop them… they are prophesying in the camp”
To that, Moses replied sternly, “Are you jealous for my sake? Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!” (Num 11:29)

Many times, among the “chosen people”, there could be such a tendency to “monopolize” Divine gifts

There could be occasions when “selected persons” feel themselves to be having a special right and privilege…
… to which no others can lay claim!

But the Lord seeks to break such fake boundaries and false borders, by telling: “Whoever is not against us, is for us” (Mk 9:40)

The quality of our Christian Life will be not assessed, simply by the vocation to which we are called…
… but by our life of faithfulness and fidelity

The vocation of being a Christian is not merely a “title” to be hung around in pride or a “plaque” to be carried around for gratification…
… it is a responsible duty that is to be carried out with sincerity and earnestness

Yes…
We need to let go of our “restricted, narrow and prejudiced” mindsets…
… and be open to the working of God’s Spirit, in any people and in any situation of life!

The Book of Sirach (Sir 4:11-19) highlights that Wisdom is not found in worldly status or grandeurs

It’s found in humility, perseverance and trust…
… often overlooked, but powerful!

Like a symphony, its beauty is revealed when we listen with discerning hearts!

Yes, greatness is often hidden in unexpected places and situations

Let’s pray for God’s Holy Wisdom to discern and understand!

Indeed… the Spirit moves where it wills…

Are we open to hearing its music?

God Bless! Live Jesus!

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📖 Discovering the beauty of the Catholic Church through the Catechism
MAN’S VOCATION LIFE IN THE SPIRIT – GOD’S SALVATION: LAW AND GRACE – The Ten Commandments – The Second Commandment

When an oath is required by illegitimate civil authorities, it may be refused.

It must be refused when it is required for purposes contrary to the dignity of persons or to ecclesial communion. (CCC # 2155)