"Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
The disciples had been given authority over unclean spirits. They came back rejoicing that the demons had been made subject to them. Yet Jesus told them to rejoice rather in the fact that their names were written in heaven (see Luke 10:20). We see now today part of the reason for that word of caution. It appears that they become too proud that the demons were subject to them specifically, and not to others. This pride prevented them from appreciating the goodness of the acts they witnessed, that is, of the exorcisms, the setting free of souls, if they did not originate from among their number.
we saw someone driving out demons in your name
This exorcist was not one of the Twelve, not among those who were recorded to have received the power and authority of Jesus for that task. But whoever this individual was, he was operating in the the power of the name of Jesus. He was a follower of Jesus even if none of the Twelve could claim him as their own.
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him.
There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name
who can at the same time speak ill of me.
The disciples were meant to take a more generous attitude toward anyone they found trying to cooperate with the mission of Jesus. Jesus wanted to demonstrate that his power would not always be limited to the hierarchy, nor to the normal appointed sacramental means of grace. He could, for instance, regenerate hearts by the baptism of desire and pour out his Spirit even on those not formally confirmed. We certainly see all the signs of this in those not in full communion with the Church in our own day. They speak powerfully and work mighty deeds in the name of Jesus. Rather than begrudging them the power we see working through them we are meant instead to see them as allies, and invite them into the fullness of our fellowship.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
To discern who is truly for Jesus we need to look at more than what they say about themselves, or even what miraculous deeds they perform. We need to be concerned first and foremost with what they are doing, whether or not they are pursuing the will of the Father in heaven.
On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’ (see Matthew 7:22-23).
Words can be cheap. Signs and wonders, miracles and mighty deeds, even these on their own can be deceptive. We are not called to align ourselves with every apparent healing ministry claiming Jesus as Lord. But we are called to make space for everyone who seems to be genuinely doing good in the name of Jesus, not just in words, but according to his mind and mission.
Do healings happen even in the audiences of televangelists who are only in it for the money? It seems likely that God would countenance the needs of some in the audience even in spite of the these preachers. Even such as these should not be resisted or opposed on the basis of mere suspicion. Rather, if it isn't certain that we and they share them same mission, we should give them space. But there will be other more genuine instances of the power of Christ manifesting outside of the usual channels. They will bear all the marks of anointing, of the authentic desire to lift up the name of Christ above all else. Such cases are to be celebrated, viewed as allies working toward the same goal in the same vineyard. Still, we should realize that those who are now outside of the formal structures, though they are allies, are meant to take their place together with us in the heart of the Church.
Now two men, one named Eldad and the other Medad,
were not in the gathering but had been left in the camp.
Eldad and Medad received the spirit even though they were not in the camp at the time. God was not restricted by the apparent normal channel through which this grace was to be given. Yet they were not to remain outside of the camp. They were meant to return and rejoin the others, and to continue on as part of the officially sanctioned leadership under Moses. The risk we are called to be on guard against today is refusing to welcome such people even when they are genuinely seeking the same thing as we are. Like Joshua or the disciples in today's readings we may be jealous, supposedly for the sake of our leader. But our leader is more generous than we are. His pride isn't hurt in the slightest by the inclusion of apparent outsiders. Rather, he delights to bring them in.
"Moses, my lord, stop them."
But Moses answered him,
"Are you jealous for my sake?
Would that all the people of the LORD were prophets!
Would that the LORD might bestow his spirit on them all!"
Only with a generous heart can we truly desire what Moses desired. Moses prayed that all of the people of the LORD would be prophets. According to Joel, this did in fact turn out to be God's plan.
And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy (see Joel 2:28).
At Pentecost the prophecy of Joel was fulfilled, which is why Paul could write to all of his hearers to "desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy" (see First Corinthians 14:1).
We desperately need prophetic voices in the world today. The rich today still withhold wages from their workers, storing up wealth without concern for others, just as when James wrote his epistle. It is too easy too easy to slip into such a lifestyle. Without the prophetic voice to challenge us we all tend to prefer lesser goods to the greater. Without that voice we often persist in hidden faults.
Yet who can detect failings?
Cleanse me from my unknown faults!
Without that voice we will be unwilling to make the sacrifice of hand, foot, and eye that may be needed to make a clean break with sin. Worse still, we may lead little ones down this same path by way of our example. Would that the Lord would raise up prophetic voices among us, voices that can cut not just to hand or foot, but right to the heart. It is these voices that are truly able to bring freedom from demonic influence. The Lord often will raise up such voices in unexpected places, perhaps in people who weren't in camp for the official ceremony. But when they are genuine in their desire to undermine sin and demonic influence for the sake of Jesus we can know for sure that they are allies, potential friends and brothers. May we find more friends like these!
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