Sunday, January 14, 2018

 John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to
stop him, because he was not following us.”  But Jesus said, “Do not stop him.  Whoever is not
against us is for us.”            
                                                                                                                  Mark 9 :38-39a,40
 
       People are often frightened by what they do not understand.  The disciples didn’t understand this man who had the power to cast out demons, and yet he was not one of Christ’s followers.  How could this be?  In his divine wisdom, Jesus tells John that those who act in love – who are obviously trying to heal, to help others – are doing God’s good work, regardless of their labels or affiliations.  We can use the same guidance today, when we encounter amazing occurrences or people we can’t understand. 
​     People all over the world, who have been gifted by God, in all of time, have been able to heal, to convey wisdom, even to see into the future.  Some of these people are called shamans; some, healers; some, ‘intuitives’.  Labels should not matter as much as our willingness to respect and accept those who live and act in love and compassion, regardless of their faiths, creeds, or cultures.
​©Carol Dean Henn