NOTES for Mar 9:38-43
John's question is very easy to understand. The apostles accompany Christ, enduring with Him all the hardships of the road, experiencing the rejection of the Pharisees, and sharing the Teacher's attention with thousands upon thousands who suffer... Suddenly someone appears who has not gone through all these difficulties but has received every possible benefit. And we know that the disciples themselves did not always succeed in working the miracles that the Teacher worked... Such a question could have been prompted by simple human envy and resentment. In our own lives we are often tormented by a similar problem, asking God: "Why do I pray and fast, why am I zealous in faith, yet nothing happens, while Your gifts appear in my neighbor much more clearly, even though he does not even attend church?" In the Gospel Jesus gives us His answer: "Do not stop him." It follows that we must watch ourselves rather than determine how worthy or unworthy our neighbor is.