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 name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us."
REFLECTION
he does not follow us.
When I went to Rome and saw the huge, heavy, awe-inspiring statues of the apostles, I concluded that imitation of them was a goal too hard to accomplish, follow, achieve or even try to fill their shoes.
But they had a beginning once, taught over three years by Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jesus is teaching-- sacrifice, humility, self denial, love of neighbor, doing good in spite of being mistreated or maligned. The apostles are still learning: like an intern vs a doctor with years of experience, an eight year old playing Frère Jacques vs concert pianist playing Bach's Mass in B Minor.
The apostles struggle with a show of power and the attendant authority that goes with it. John's statement, "he does not follow us'' instead of"he does not follow you, Jesus" is telling.
We witness the humanity of the apostles—arguing who is the greatest, not understanding why they could not drive out the spirit and maybe thinking their work is theirs and not God's
We must follow His plan, serve with humility, accept our crosses, be faithful and detach from all earthly goods with childlike trust not on our power but on God alone.
The Praying Hands by Albrecht Dürer are a reminder of the sacrifice of his brother, Albert, also a sculptor. He worked in the coal mines to pay for his brother's schooling. His hands were crippled by the many accidents experienced in the coal mines. No longer could he sculpt. It is said that Albrecht drew his brother's hands in appreciation for his love and sacrifice.
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