The Nazareth Page -A gospel meditation for your home

September 29, 2024 – Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Mark 9:38-48

REFLECTION QUESTIONS:
Download this simple process to Prepare for Sunday using the Observe, Judge, Act Method

In early adulthood, I was a seminarian in a religious community. I was immersed in many formal religious customs and activities that mostly ended when I left that highly structured life. But some of what I experienced then stayed with me. In that community (Holy Cross) before each meal a prayer was recited drawn from a bible verse from Paul’s First Letter to the Corinthians. It went something like this: “Whether you eat or drink, or whatsoever else you might do, do all for the glory of God.” Then we all picked up our forks and began eating.

What mostly stayed with me was the phrase, “whatsoever else you might do.” I interpreted that as applying to everything else. Anything and everything I did that day, that night, that season, that year, or during my whole life. It was an all-inclusive principle.

During my studies to become a theologian, I came across a question in moral theology about what were called “morally indifferent acts.” Basically, this was an inquiry about whether there were three kinds of actions: those that are virtuous, those that were immoral and a third class, which were neither. Or were there only two categories, acts were either good or evil?

I researched the topic (and wrote a term paper on it) finding that theologians were on both each side of the issue. Eventually, I sided with these who concluded that there were no thoughts, words or deeds that were “morally indifferent.” Put differently, if something was not morally evil (a sin), it was good. It contributed to one’s personal sanctity and the world’s improvement.  

I saw a direct connection between that meal prayer that referred to eating and drinking and everything else! Therefore, if something was good, even something as seemingly insignificant as making a bed, washing dishes, paying bills or picking weeds from a garden, it all contributes to improving and expanding God’s world. And my own spiritual life. I also connected this insight with my theology of family life where I concluded that “whatsoever” that was done to deepen family relationships, family survival and family fun should be considered essential parts of family spirituality.

In today’s gospel Jesus said to his disciples that whatever is not against us is for us. Put another way, if something is not morally evil, it is good. And that includes almost everything!

David M. Thomas, PhD