The lesson of the lone exorcist

“No one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us.” (Mark 9:39-40)

In Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus defends the lone exorcist who uses his name. He is more concerned about what people say about him, than what good works they do in his name. As long as this man does not “speak evil” of him, he is to be tolerated: “Anyone who is not against us is for us.”

By contrast, those who deny Jesus’ identity are to be refuted. When his enemies accused him of being possessed by demons, Jesus reversed this phrase: “He who is not with me is against me” (Matthew 12:30, Luke 11:23). He also shifts the focus from the disciples (“us”) to himself (“me”): the most crucial relationship is with him personally, which then gives meaning to our relationship with his followers.

But why was this lone exorcist tolerated and successful while, a few years later, the seven sons of Sceva, Jewish exorcists, tried to use Jesus’ name and failed miserably? (Acts 19:11-6) 

It seems these seven were instrumentalising Jesus’ name without any opennesss to Jesus himself, whereas this lone exorcist was disposed to embrace Christ fully.

If we want to attract those with an imperfect knowledge of Jesus towards full faith in him, let’s help them do good in his name. The very experience of being an instrument in Jesus’ hands – rather than instrumentalising him like the seven others – is transformative. In fact Jesus makes us his instruments not just for others’ benefit, but also for ours: actively sharing in his acts of love, rather than simply being their object, gives us intimacy with him.

This lone exorcist acted in Jesus’ name but he was not yet “in his name” as the disciples were (verse 9:41 is hard to translate but seems to say Jesus’ followers live “in Christ’s name”). Let’s live more deeply in Jesus’ name: he spoke symbolically about us cutting off a hand and a foot to escape sinful situations, but he really did suffer wounds in both his hands and both his feet to redeem us on Calvary.

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