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• The first reading from Numbers addresses the individuals who assisted Moses in the leadership of the people.
• The seventy elders have authority because God's Spirit has been bestowed on them.
• Moses reminds Joshua that the focus is to be on God and not on earthly leaders.

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• The letter from James reprimands Christians for their excessive concern with earthly riches.
• These have become an obstacle to their faith.
• Not only are they inordinately possessive of what they have accumulated, but they have grown rich at the expense of others.

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• John presumes that any person who is not part of the apostle's group should not invoke Jesus' name in ministry.
• Jesus points out that anyone who recognizes his name whether or not the person belongs to the community, will be rewarded because the person honors Jesus' name.
• In the latter part of the passage Jesus uses highly figurative language to emphasize that nothing is more important than belonging to the reign of God, no matter what the cost.