Gospel MK 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples: "Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. "Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another."

Reflection

Jesus couldn’t possibly mean literally “cut it off” if your hand causes you to sin then everyone would be disfigured… so he was putting great emphasis on the severity of sin.

After reading this gospel, the common saying “money is the root of all evil” has become overstated. It is sin that is “the root of all evil”. Money when used wisely can help the poor. It is the greed of money over moral value that lead to murder, burglary and many other heinous crimes.

Archbishop Fulton Sheen explained beautifully when we suffer, it is from sin either from our own or others. Then imagine that suffering from the sin tenfold, then hundredfold, then the world. That is the suffering that Jesus had to endure. So, it puts into perspective that what we go through we can turn to Jesus as He understands and knows our suffering since He too has suffered because of us.

Instead of harboring resentment towards us, He forgives us and “salted” us with the Holy Spirit. So that we would have a life full of flavor with zeal for our Lord. For with this zeal we will have peace with others for when we look at them we would be able to recognize Jesus in them that brings out the goodness in them.

Let us pray:

Restore us, O Lord

May we see You in others

Salt us with your love