GOSPEL READING:
Mark 9:38-43,45, 47-4838 John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." 39 But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is for us. 41 For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward.
42 "Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43 And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire.
45 And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
Meditation: Do you rejoice in the good that others do?
Jesus reprimands his disciples for their jealousy and suspicion.
They were upset that someone who was not of their company was
performing a good work in the name of Jesus. They even "forbade"
the man "because he was not following us". Jesus' reply is filled
with wisdom: "No one who does a mighty work in my name will be
able soon after to speak evil of me." Are we not like the
disciples when we get upset at the good deeds of others who seem
to shine more than us? Paul says that "love is not jealous... but
rejoices in the right" (1 Corinthians 13:4,6).
Love does not envy others
Envy and jealousy, its counterpart, are sinful because they lead
us to sorrow over what should make us rejoice - namely, our
neighbor's good. The reason we may grieve over another's good
is that somehow we see that good as lessening our own value or
excellence. Envy forms when we believe that the other person's
advantage or possession diminishes or brings disgrace on us. Envy
is contrary to love. Both the object of love and the object of
envy is our neighbor's good, but by contrary movements, since love
rejoices in our neighbor's good, while envy grieves over it.
The love of God frees us from envy and jealousy
How can we overcome envy? With the love that God has put into our
hearts through the gift of the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:5). The Holy
Spirit purifies our heart and frees us from our disordered
passions, such as envy, jealously, greed, and bitterness. God's
love is a generous and selfless love which is wholly oriented
towards our good. The love that God places in our hearts seeks the
highest good of our neighbor. God's love purifies and frees us
from all envy and jealousy - and it compels us to give generously,
especially to those who lack what they need.
Love gives freely and generously in kind deeds
Every one in need has a claim on us because they are dear to God
who created them in his own image and likeness (Genesis 1:26-27).
God created us in love for love. We are most free and happy when
we love as he loves. The love and charitable help we show to our
neighbor also expresses the gratitude we have for the abundant
mercy and kindness of God towards us. Jesus declared that any
kindness shown and any help given to those in need would not lose
its reward. Jesus never refused to give to anyone in need who
asked for his help. As his disciples we are called to be kind and
generous as he is. Are you grateful for God's mercy and kindness
towards you and are you ready to show that same kindness and
generosity towards your neighbor?
Gregory of Nyssa (330-395 AD), an early church father wrote:
"God never asks his servants to do what is impossible. The love and goodness of his Godhead is revealed as richly available. It is poured out like water upon all. God furnishes to each person according to his will the ability to do something good. None of those seeking to be saved will be lacking in this ability, given by the one who said: 'whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward'" (ON THE CHRISTIAN MODE OF LIFE 8.1)
Those who show kindness and charity will be greatly
rewarded
Who in their right mind would want to lose their reward and then
be deprived of joy in the end? We have been given the greatest of
rewards - God himself who is perfect love and source of abundant
life and unending happiness. Paul the Apostle tells us that "God's
love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit"
(Romans 5:5). God's love purifies our hearts and compels us to
express kindness and charity towards our neighbor who is created
in the image and likeness of God.
Do you allow the love of Christ to transform your heart that you
may treat your neighbor with loving-kindness and mercy?
Avoiding evil and the near occasion of sin
Was Jesus' exaggerating when he urged his followers to use drastic
measures to avoid evil and its harmful consequences (Mark 9:42-47)?
Jesus set before his disciples the one supreme goal in life that
is worth any sacrifice, and that goal is God himself and his will
for our lives which leads to everlasting peace and happiness. Just
as a doctor might remove a limb or some part of the body in order
to preserve the life of the whole body, so we must be ready to
part with anything that causes us to sin and which leads to
spiritual death.
Jesus warns his disciples of the terrible responsibility that
they must set no stumbling block in the way of another, that
is, not give offense or bad example that might lead another to
sin. The Greek word for temptation (scandalon) is exactly
the same as the English word scandal. The original meaning
of scandal is a trap or a stumbling block which causes one to trip
and fall. The Jews held that it was an unforgivable sin to teach
another to sin. If we teach another to sin, he or she in turn may
teach still another, until a train of sin is set in motion with no
foreseeable end. The young in faith are especially vulnerable to
the bad example of those who should be passing on the faith. Do
you set a good example for others to follow, especially the young?
Lord Jesus, fill me with your Holy Spirit that I may radiate the joy of the Gospel to others. May your light and truth shine through me that others may find new life and joy in you, and freedom from sin and oppression.
Psalm 49:1-10
1 Hear this, all peoples! Give ear, all inhabitants of the world,
2 both low and high, rich and poor together!
3 My mouth shall speak wisdom; the meditation of my heart shall be understanding.
4 I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre.
5 Why should I fear in times of trouble, when the iniquity of my persecutors surrounds me,
6 men who trust in their wealth and boast of the abundance of their riches?
7 Truly no man can ransom himself, or give to God the price of his life,
8 for the ransom of his life is costly, and can never suffice,
9 that he should continue to live on for ever, and never see the Pit.
10 Yes, he shall see that even the wise die, the fool and the stupid alike must perish and leave their wealth to others.
Daily Quote from the Early Church Fathers: Encouraging good works done in Christ, by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"We ought not be disturbed because some who do not belong or do
not yet belong to this temple, that is, among whom God does not or
does not yet dwell, perform some works of power, as happened to
the one who cast out devils in the name of Christ (Mark 9:38, Luke
9:49). Although he was not a follower of Christ, Christ ordered
that he be allowed to continue because it gave a valuable
testimony of his name to many... The centurion Cornelius also saw
the angel that was sent to him to say that his prayers had been
heard and his alms accepted (Acts 10:3-4), even before he was
incorporated into this temple by regeneration." (excerpt
from
LETTER 187, TO DARDANUS 36)
