Bishop Robert Barron’s reflection on a passage from the Book of Numbers offers profound insights into the nature of Christian love, God’s grace, and the dangers of envy. This seemingly obscure story of Eldad and Medad, two men who received God’s spirit despite not participating in a formal ritual, reveals a crucial truth about the relationship between divine grace and established religious structures. It also highlights the importance of humility and the need to overcome envy in our spiritual lives.
Bishop Barron begins by setting the context within the Book of Numbers, describing the Israelites’ journey through the desert and their frequent complaints against Moses. This grumbling, he notes, mirrors our own human tendency to romanticize past sins and resist the challenges of spiritual growth. The Israelites’ dissatisfaction with manna, the miraculous bread from heaven, serves as a potent example of how we often fail to appreciate God’s blessings, especially when they require us to abandon our comfort zones.
This leads to Moses’ plea for assistance, overwhelmed by the burden of leadership. God responds by sharing Moses’ spirit with seventy elders, a scene reminiscent of priestly ordination. This act, a prototypical example of religious ritual, emphasizes God’s intention for structured worship and leadership within the community. However, the story takes an unexpected turn when Eldad and Medad, absent from the ceremony, also receive the spirit and begin to prophesy.
Joshua, Moses’ aide, is disturbed by this deviation from established protocol, urging Moses to intervene. Moses’ response, however, is one of remarkable humility and clarity. He questions Joshua’s jealousy and expresses a desire for all God’s people to be filled with the spirit. This exchange highlights the crucial distinction between adhering to religious rituals and recognizing the ultimate source of grace.
Bishop Barron emphasizes that God is not indifferent to ritual and liturgy. Citing Aquinas, he reminds us that these physical expressions of faith are essential because we are embodied spirits, not angels. The sacraments, the liturgy, and the rituals are tangible means by which we cultivate our relationship with God.
He further clarifies that while God establishes these sacraments, He is not bound by them. God’s grace can operate outside of formal structures, as demonstrated by the experience of Eldad and Medad. This principle, articulated in the Catechism of the Catholic Church, affirms that God can and does work beyond the confines of established religious practices.
The second key theme Bishop Barron explores is the sin of envy, particularly within a religious context, known as invidia clericalis. He parallels Joshua’s reaction with a similar incident in the Gospel, where John complains about someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name but not following them. Jesus rebukes this exclusivity, stating that anyone performing good deeds in his name is not against them.
This leads to a crucial point: the purpose of all religious structures is to facilitate the flow of God’s grace into the world. While the Church serves as the ordinary vehicle for this grace, God is free to operate beyond its formal boundaries. Bishop Barron references Cardinal George’s observation that the Catholic Church possesses the fullness of Christ’s gifts, yet acknowledges that certain gifts may be better exercised in other contexts.
In conclusion, the story of Eldad and Medad reminds us to prioritize God’s grace above rigid adherence to religious structures. These structures are meant to serve grace, not constrain it. It calls us to embrace humility, celebrate the manifestation of God’s grace wherever it appears, and overcome the destructive power of envy. True Christian love, as exemplified by Moses’ response, rejoices in the spread of God’s spirit, regardless of its form or context.
