Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better to him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If you hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where

'Their worm does not die,

And the fire is not quenched.'

"And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where

'Their worm does not die,

And the fire is not quenched.'

"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, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire -- where

'Their worm does not die,

And the fire is not quenched.'

"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another."

- Mark 9:42-50

In yesterday's reading, Christ first warned - yet again - His disciples about what is coming: that He will be betrayed, killed, and will rise on the third day. They had no idea about these things He told them, but they were afraid to ask Him. As they came to Capernaum, He asked what they were disputing about on the road. They were again afraid to speak, because they'd been disputing about who would be greatest in His kingdom. Jesus told them, "If anyone desires to be the first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.” He brought a child before the twelve and said, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." John asked about others they had seen who were casting out demons in Jesus' name, but were not one of their fellow followers. Jesus said, "Do not forbid him, for no one who works a miracle in My name can soon afterward speak evil of Me. For he who is not against us is on our side. For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”

"But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better to him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea. If you hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed, rather than having two hands, to go to hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'" Once again, a note in my study bible says it well: "One of the sternest warnings Christ ever gave is here directed at the disciples. Little ones, like the 'little children' [see yesterday's reading] are humble believers with no pretensions to greatness. Leaders are to be 'last': faithful and serving. A major cause of stumbling for Christians is that their leaders seek to be great. To bring leaders to servanthood, Jesus requires not physical mutilation but uncompromising detachment, even from the most precious relationships or possessions, if they cause sin. As a negative motivation, He portrays eternal torment." I think we have to remember this powerful warning as a way in which Christ teaches those who will teach: the "little ones" in their care -- in whose presence they are to see the Father Himself -- are essential to His body. They are to be led with the greatest care, never to be exploited for personal gain of any kind. To cause them to stumble can happen in many ways, no doubt. But leadership in the Church is to be a profound responsibility, not one in which they lord it over the little ones, but rather practice the most reverent care -- the true test of discipleship is complete charity in leadership and good instruction. To cut off one's hand is to separate oneself from anything we might think of as belonging to us: like a precious habit or consideration of which we hate to let go (like desire for position). All of it has to go if it does not serve God's true ways; otherwise God's judgment will be the place where it is banished or purified from the kingdom. Part of grace is the capacity to choose; the Spirit at work within us helps us to accomplish the changes we need to make. This statement here is also the inverse of what we read in yesterday's reading. Just as giving a cup of water in His name, to one who belongs to Him, creates reward -- so causing one of the little ones to stumble is, in effect, worse than tying a millstone around one's neck, and being cast into the sea.

"And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life lame, rather than having two feet, to be cast into hell, into the fire that shall never be quenched -- where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'" Again, we have the warning and repetition: even if it is something on which you think you rely in life, the thing that causes sin -- especially when it comes to leadership in the Church (in context here, misleading the "little ones" and causing them to stumble) -- must be cast aside, tossed away in life. One must separate from the things which do harm to all, and which destroy true charity, leadership, and feeding the lambs. The quotation is from Isiah 66:24.

"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, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire -- where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'" And a final repetition; this one emphasizing something as precious to oneself as an eye. (We can see analogies to eat body part in how we live life in discipleship: what we do or give out -- the hand; how we walk or where we go -- the foot; how we see things -- the eye.) There are all sorts of ways in which we might nurture a private desire, especially in terms of our own greatness and position. Put this in the context of proper leadership, and we repeatedly see Christ's emphasis on the ways in which the little ones are led. Are they there so that we can make ourselves look good? Add a good work to a resume? Exercise power? Feel "great?" There's no sterner warning than that which comes here regarding humility and true purpose, the ends of charity and love and nurturing in the Church. Need I ask how many ways or examples one can point to where this saying must be heard?

"For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavor, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." And here the teaching comes home, because this is really for each and every believer -- but directed specifically at the disciples who have been disputing over who is going to greatest. My study bible says this tells us that "suffering will happen to all who follow Christ, a positive experience when undertaken in humble faith . . . Salt is good refers to the special quality of life expected of disciples, particularly those whom Christ has called to spread His gospel. Have peace with one another suggests that one way to lose flavor as salt is to be striving for greatness."

In Matthew's Gospel (in the Sermon on the Mount), we read Jesus teaching the disciples, "You are the salt of the earth." Salt was a highly valued commodity, necessary for preservation and flavor, essential for life. Here, Jesus speaks of salt in connection with sacrifice: that which we may need to sacrifice about ourselves, our goals, even our cherished behaviors or thoughts. Let us remember here that life requires of us more than easy position, high acclaim, a kind of greatness or elevation over others. Particularly in the Church, the ways in which we treat one another -- and especially in instruction and the example of leadership to the little ones -- call for Christ's standard. We reflect on His commandment: "A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” Jesus' love takes the form of necessary rebuke, constant good instruction, leadership in going forward in expanding understanding and deepening faith, and assistance and compassion to each who needs. In particular, we have help in faith. Through all of these things, we learn that we are loved by the One who sent Him, the Father of all. These are all the things that go into feeding His lambs. He is calling us to be like Him, to follow as we learn to obey this commandment, to love as He loved. This is the greatest goal of the Church. There is no starker warning than we read here, in today's reading, for failing to follow it. Let love be the way, in all things.