He who is not against us is for us: Commentary by Fr. Jorge Miró

Fr. Jorge Miró shares with Exaudi readers his commentary on the Gospel of this Sunday, September 29, 2024, entitled “He who is not against us is for us”

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The Word today invites us to live open to the action of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit blows where it wants; ultimately, you will know them by their fruits. What fruits? First, confess that Jesus is Lord (cf. 1 Cor 12:3) and then: love, joy, peace, patience, friendliness, goodness, loyalty, modesty, and self-control (cf. Gal 5:22-23).

It is an invitation not to quench the Spirit: Do not quench the spirit, do not despise prophecies. Test everything; Keep what is good (1 Thess 5:19-21).

Working in the name of Jesus is not a simple rhetorical phrase, but its authenticity is verified in the fruits. The Word today specifies some of them for us.

Whoever does a miracle in my name cannot then speak ill of me. The Spirit leads us to Jesus Christ: The Spirit of truth will guide you into all truth… He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and announce it to you (cf. Jn 15:13-15).

If all the Lord’s people would receive the spirit of the Lord and prophesy! Participating joyfully in the mission of the Church is one of the signs. Letting yourself be led by the Spirit, to seek not your vanity or your self-satisfaction, but the glory of God and the good of the community; always in communion with the Church, and never trying to use the Spirit to carry out your plan.

If your hand leads you to sin, cut it off. It is not a question of living in the irrationality of a fanatic, but with the passion of a lover: take your conduct in this life seriously… You know with what you were redeemed: at the price of the blood of Christ (cf. 1 Pet 1:17ff.).

Your wealth is corrupted… Your gold and silver are rusty, and their rust will become a testimony against you. He who lives full of the Spirit uses material things, but does not set his heart on them. He seeks first the Kingdom of God and justice, because he knows that the rest will be given to him in addition.

Preserve your servant from arrogance, so that it does not dominate me: thus I will remain free and innocent of the great sin. What is the great sin? To believe that you are God and to quench the Spirit. That is why he who is full of the Spirit lives in humility, in obedience to the Lord and in praise.

Come Holy Spirit! (cf. Lk 11:13).