In today's Gospel Jesus teaches us that God is pleased with any good deed we do for others.
Holy Spirit, fill my heart and illuminate my mind. Help me to hear and understand God's message today. Help me to recognize when God is trying to speak to me in my daily life. Amen
At that time, John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my namewho can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drinkbecause you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstonewere put around his neckand he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eyethan with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'"
Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqVVjSSycU8 (Credit to Catholic Kids Media)
Ask: Why did the disciples want to stop the person who was healing in Jesus’ name? (because this person was not a follower of Jesus) What answer did Jesus give to his disciples? (He told the disciples to let this person continue.)
Say: The disciples sounded jealous because they thought that they were the only ones who would be able to heal others using the power of Jesus’ name. Jesus teaches them that they should not be jealous. Instead they should remember that all who do what God wants are equal in his eyes and are working together to serve the Kingdom of God.
Say: This is important for us to remember. Whenever we do something good for another person, even the smallest good deed, God is pleased with us. And God wants us to appreciate the good deeds of others, who are working, like us, to serve the Kingdom of God.
Conclude in prayer together, asking God to keep us from being jealous of the things others can do and asking God to help us work with others to serve the Kingdom of God. Pray together the Lord’s Prayer.
Father in heaven, for the conversion of sinners, we give you today, all that we think and do and say, and we join it with all that was done by Jesus Christ, your Son. Amen
