Whoever is not against us is for us

Sir 4,12-22; Ps 118; Mk 9,38-40
27 FEBRUARY

Every word of Jesus must be read and understood in the place and moment and according to the circumstances in which it was uttered. In the Gospel according to Matthew, Jesus says: “He who is not with me is against me”. The context is the harsh, deaf opposition of the Pharisees. These even to deny the supernatural origin of the works of Jesus, accused him, slandering him, lying and saying false testimony, that He was an ally of Beelzebùl. He acted with the authority and strength of the prince of demons, that is, of Satan. After having defended the supernaturality of his actions, he declares to the Pharisees that they, not being with him, are against him. Not gathering with him, they disperse. Their doctrine, their thoughts and their works are thus declared vain. Everything is vanity in them.

Then they brought to him a demoniac who was blind and mute. He cured the mute person so that he could speak and see. All the crowd was astounded, and said, “Could this perhaps be the Son of David?” But when the Pharisees heard this, they said, “This man drives out demons only by the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons.” But he knew what they were thinking and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste, and no town or house divided against itself will stand. And if Satan drives out Satan, he is divided against himself; how, then, will his kingdom stand? And if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the Spirit of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. How can anyone enter a strong man’s house and steal his property, unless he first ties up the strong man? Then he can plunder his house. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters (Mt 12,22-30).

We find the same context and statements of Jesus in the Gospel according to Luke.

He was driving out a demon (that was) mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute person spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.” Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that (I) drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger 7 than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armour on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters (Lk 11,14-232).

Instead, the affirmation that we find in the Gospel according to Mark is in a very different context. There is a man who drives out demons in the name of Jesus, but he does not follow Jesus, he does not walk with Him. They wanted to stop him right because of this: he did not go with them. Jesus orders that he is not prevented from expelling demons in his name. The disciples must defend Jesus from those who speak ill of Him, not from those who work in his name. These will never speak badly. They act in his name. In some ways they help Jesus in his mission. In this case, whoever is not against us is for us. He favours us. He makes us be known. He attests for our truth. He must be left to work. Jesus must be defended from the words of lies that are said against him. He is the perfect truth. Those who manifest his truth, even if the modalities do not correspond to our desires, must always be left to work. They are helpful.

John said to him, “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.

Jesus wants his disciples to be always filled with all wisdom. Every word of theirs must be spoken to help Jesus. If a person in some way already helps Jesus, it is good to direct him so that he helps him in a perfect way. This is wisdom.

Mother of God, Angels and Saints, fill us with all wisdom in order to help Jesus.