September 29, 2024: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. 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.”

Reflection

The first part of this reading reminds us that Jesus is not an “either/or” person; he is a “both/and” person. When it comes to deeds of goodness, it doesn’t matter who does them. The disciples are to receive simple acts of kindness from others, even as simple as a cup of water, with no suspicion about their motives or judgment of their actions.

Then Jesus makes several points about sin by using the literary device of hyperbole, i.e., he exaggerates and makes statements not to be taken literally. But his examples certainly do get our attention and convey just how he feels about those who lead others to sin, especially those who are the “little ones” or anyone of insignificance. He lets us know, too, how we should feel about our own sinfulness. We must avoid it at all costs.

Action

Not much is made of sin these days. Some people hesitate to even use the word.  Perhaps this week is a good time to reflect on our own sinfulness and to honestly admit faults and shortcomings, those times when we are not kind and our thoughts are unloving. Let our prayer be, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”