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Wednesday 7th
Week OT
The Institute
May
18, 2016
FOR OR AGAINST? ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø “Whoever is not against us is for us”
Ø This is a quite a statement
Ø It seems that Jesus wants us to
recognize good wherever and by whomever it is done
IF NOT AGAINST, THEN FOR
+++++++++++++++++++++
Ø One Catholic scholar, Charles Taylor,
puts it this way
Ø He says that we are to lift up and
applaud human flourishing
Ø By that he means whatever we see as
being positive development & care 4 the common good
Ø Jesus found it necessary to speak
these words — “Whoever is not against us
is for us” — to the Apostles
Ø They were being negative about others
who were doing good things, just because they were not part of Jesus’ group
APPLICATION
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø So obviously good things are being
done by scientists or social workers or whomever that are a great help to humanity
Ø That may not be Catholic; they may be
non-believers
Ø We need to applaud what is done as
good and godly work
Ø Good things may be done by some who,
according to our beliefs, do other things that are wrong
Ø Once again, we still applaud the good
because even here, our lifting up the good may lead those persons to do more
good and even over time lead them away from doing things that are wrong
CONCLUSION
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Ø Jesus’ words are needed today and in
every era
Ø They are needed if we Catholics or any
Christian group become so self-enclosed that we do not lift up the good that
others do
Ø In the long run, that stance or posture
does little or nothing to promote the way of Jesus
Ø Jesus’ words today recognize that
God’s action in others is not limited by our definitions of where and how God
can work
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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