VOICE OF THE LOGOS (10): REFLECTION/HOMILY FOR WEDNESDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME, YEAR I

Religion, by its very nature, is meant to be a path to God, a channel of refinement, and a way to cultivate virtue, love, and justice. However, history has shown that religion often becomes something entirely different – a competition. Instead of focusing on faith, humility, and service, many religious individuals and groups have turned their spiritual journey into a race for power, recognition, and control. Churches and religious leaders compete for influence, denominations discredit one another, and many believers become more concerned with proving their superiority rather than deepening their relationship with God. This is not just a modern issue. Throughout history, religious communities have often struggled with a sense of exclusivity, believing that truth and divine favour belong only to them. The moment religion shifts from a call to grow in virtue to a contest for status, it loses its essence. Instead of drawing people to God, it becomes a battleground for rivalry, pride, and division.

This issue is precisely what the First Reading (Sirach 4:11-19) addresses through the personification of Wisdom. In Sirach, Wisdom is portrayed as both a guide and a tester, leading people through a process of refinement before revealing her full blessings. However, the key lesson is that Wisdom does not grant true knowledge to those who seek her for self-glorification or personal status. Instead, she disciplines those who approach her, ensuring that their intentions are purified. The Hebrew concept “מוּסָר” (Mūsar), meaning “discipline, instruction, or correction,” is deeply embedded in this passage. Wisdom disciplines those who desire her, testing them to expose their true motives. Those who are sincere endure this formation and are rewarded, but those who seek wisdom for self-promotion fail the test and are left to their own downfall. This mirrors a deep spiritual truth – many people claim to seek God, but in reality, they seek religious validation, influence, or superiority over others. Sirach warns that wisdom is not for those who wish to dominate others but for those willing to be corrected and transformed by it.

This theme directly connects to the Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 37:3-4, 18-19, 27-28, 39-40), which lays emphasis on trusting in God rather than relying on human power. The Psalm states: “Trust in the Lord and do good, that you may dwell in the land and be secure.” Those who truly trust in the Lord do not feel the need to compete for recognition or spiritual superiority because they understand that God alone upholds the righteous. This is a sharp contrast to religious rivalry, where individuals strive to prove their worth instead of resting in God’s approval.

The Gospel (Mark 9:38-40) presents a practical case of religious competition in action. John, one of Jesus’ closest disciples, comes to Him with a concern: “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him because he was not one of us.” John’s reaction is a textbook example of exclusivity in religion; he assumes that only those within his immediate group have the right to exercise divine authority. His concern is not that the man was doing something wrong, but that he was doing something right, yet outside their official group. Jesus immediately rebukes this mindset, saying: “Do not stop him… Whoever is not against us is for us.” This response is shocking because it directly contradicts the disciples’ belief that spiritual authority is limited to a select few. The Greek term “ζηλός” (Zēlos), meaning “zeal, rivalry, or jealousy,” is implicit in their reaction. The disciples were not concerned with truth but with maintaining exclusive control over divine works. This is the same issue that Sirach warns against: people seeking wisdom or divine power not for God’s glory but for their own self-importance.

The Gospel passage serves as a corrective lesson to spiritual gatekeeping. Jesus makes it clear that God is not limited by human institutions, nor is His work restricted to one religious group. The man casting out demons may not have been part of the Twelve, but he was still acting in Jesus’ name, which meant that God was working through him. Religious pride blinded the disciples from recognizing God’s hand in unexpected places, just as it blinds many today who assume that faith and divine action belong exclusively to their church, denomination, or leadership. This lesson is just as relevant today as it was then. Many religious groups still treat faith as a contest for influence, where success is measured by numbers, power, and recognition. It is seen in churches that focus more on growing their membership than on genuine spiritual formation. It manifests in denominations that discredit one another rather than acknowledging the work of God in different traditions. It is present in leaders who see their positions as platforms for personal authority rather than as calls to humble service. This competitive spirit is dangerous because it shifts the focus away from God’s mission and places it on human ambition. Just as the disciples failed to recognize that God was working outside their immediate group, many today fail to see that God’s work is not confined to one tradition, movement, or leader. The key lesson here is that true faith is not about controlling access to God but about recognizing His presence wherever He chooses to manifest it.

The practical takeaways from these readings are clear. First, faith should never become a contest for status or influence. Those who spend their energy trying to prove themselves superior to others in religious matters are missing the point of discipleship. Second, we must be open to recognizing God’s work beyond our immediate circle. Instead of reacting with envy or suspicion when others bear fruit in faith, we should rejoice that God’s name is being glorified. Third, we must check our own motives: are we seeking wisdom and faith for genuine transformation, or are we using religion as a tool for self-validation? Many engage in religious activity not because they want to grow in holiness, but because they want to be seen as better than others. This is spiritual pride, and both Sirach and Jesus warn against it.

Dear friends in Christ, religion becomes a competition when people mistake divine authority for personal control. The disciples struggled with this, and many still do today. But the truth remains that God’s power cannot be monopolized. Faith is not about proving who is right or who holds the most influence; it is about trust, humility, and surrendering to God’s greater mission. When we stop seeing religion as a battle for dominance and start embracing it as a journey toward truth, which we all share, we will finally understand what it means to truly serve God.