Temptations to sin

Gospel Reading: Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

AT that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we sasome­one 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 it 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: Radical solutions

Jesus tells his disciples to cut off their hands if these cause them to sin. We may wonder why Jesus is so harsh in his recommendations. Is there no other way to stop committing sin?

When it comes to sinning, especially giving scandal, Jesus gives no concessions. He wants to excise all causes of scandals. Scandals are grave offenses not only to God but also to the community. Scandals frustrate God’s plan to have the flock grow. In the early years of Christianity, the old members took care of the new members like precious treasures. The neophytes would have fresh ideas; they would replace the old retiring members.

In the First Reading, the community of Israel in the desert grapples with the problem of new leadership. The old guards try to disqualify the new ones. They are not aware that God has given the latter God’s spirit to lead.

In the Second Reading, James warns the rich about their excesses. They will be pun­ished severely. They have been living scandal­ously and treating their workers unjustly. Their lifestyle has turned off some members of the community.

Most members of our church organizations and religious congregations are aging. The hope for new members looks bleak. We can attribute this to how the elder members han­dle the new recruits. Instead of drawing more members, they turn them away. Giving scandal is not only being inconsistent with the ideals of the group, but also treating others shabbily. The new ones are treated as slaves and are not given importance. This attitude condemns their groups to death.

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SOURCE: “365 Days with the Lord,” ST PAULS, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 895-9701; Fax 895-7328; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.