But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea

 "But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung 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, 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

Yesterday we read that Jesus and the disciples departed from there and passed through Galilee, and He did not want anyone to know it.  For He taught His disciples and said to them, "The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.  And right after He is killed, He will rise the third day."  But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him.  Then He came to Capernaum.  And when He was in the house He asked them, "What was it you disputed among yourselves on the road?"  But they kept silent, for on the road they had disputed among themselves who would be the greatest.  And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, "If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all."  Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them.  And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them, "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me."  Now John answered Him, saying, "Teacher, we saw someone who does not follow us casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow us."  But 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 for him if a millstone were hung 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, 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.'"  Let us recall that we are in the middle of a conversation between Jesus and the disciples.  They have arrived in Capernaum and are inside the house of Peter, and Jesus has asked them what they were disputing while they were on the road, on the way here.  They had been disputing between themselves who would be greatest in what we presume is the worldly kingdom they expect.  They have failed to understand what it means that Jesus has told them He will "rise on the third day," and are likely thinking of the worldly kingdom expected among the population when the Christ comes.  In yesterday's reading, above, Jesus began by telling about how power should be exercised in His kingdom, in the Church which will be established in His name.  Here, He continues this discussion, once again referring to the "little ones," symbolized by the little child He uses as an example.  My study bible says that little ones include all who have childlike humility and simplicity, all who are poor in spirit.  Little ones are also the humbler and less powerful, and clearly Jesus is referring to the time when they will be the bishops of His Church, and consequently He is teaching our bishops of today, and all of us who call ourselves followers of Christ.  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 66:24, regarding the fate of those who transgress against God, making this the sternest warning to the disciples that He can make.  If we think about a hand, we understand He is speaking about where a hand might go that violates the appropriate boundaries of God.  Jesus has already stressed that when they receive even a little child, it is as if they receive Him, and if Him, then the Father who sent Him.  A hand may seek to grasp and take hold of that which does not belong to it, to commit theft; it may also strike a person.  Jesus is referring to personal habits that seem a part of ourselves, saying that we must cut them off even if we are "maimed" as a result.  This is preferable to harming one of the little ones.

"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.'"   Jesus re-emphasizes the point by using the example of a foot.  A foot may trample or trespass where it is not wanted nor welcome.  Mark's Gospel repeats the warning from Isaiah about those who transgress the word of God.

"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 again, Jesus uses the image of a body part to emphasize violations of power and abuse.  An eye may gaze upon that which it covets; this kind of lust can apply both to property and to people.

"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."   My study bible comments that to be seasoned with fire means being tested to see if one's faith and works are genuine (see 1 Corinthians 3:11-15).  Christ is quoting Leviticus 2:13 when He says that every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.  Here, salt stands for the remembrance of God's covenant with God's people.  

Jesus uses the quite vivid imagery of body parts and mutilation to teach us about the importance of casting off habits or tendencies which can seem like a vital part of ourselves, should they predispose us to any sort of violation against one of the "little ones."  Clearly these warnings are about the use of power in His Church, and they are given to the disciples who will be the very pillars of that Church, its first bishops.  But each of us has to take these warnings seriously for ourselves.  We read about scandals in the Church; these may be scandals about money, or scandals about abuse of other kinds, including of the literal "little ones."  But in every case, we must go back to the words of Christ here, who took such pains to emphasize how those in His Church should use power.   This passage in Mark's Gospel simply could not be more emphatic as a warning against abuses of power in the Church.  But for each of us, who seek to bear Christ's image within ourselves as well as we can, these words should be especially stinging and poignant.  Imagine the disciples hearing the words from Isaiah, and repeated three times, as a warning against behaviors that abuse the powerless.  Jesus does not advocate violence or self-mutiliation here, but He is giving us the one and only choice we have, and that is a kind of radical personal repentance that may feel like we are casting off a part of ourselves.  Christ also calls into question here notions of personal power, and those who may interest themselves in places in the Church simply for the sake of wielding a kind of power, having a position of greatness.  Looking back upon Church history, so often the most remembered bishops and leaders have been those reluctant to serve in high position, with a preference for the obscurity of monastic life.  It tells us something important about humility that even stories from secular life reflect the importance of humility for some of our greatest generals and political leaders.  In the context of today's headlines and scandals, Christ's words remain ever so important for all of us.  Humility is the antidote for what ails us -- and the willingness to look critically at ourselves and our flaws and weaknesses, and cast off that which may cause offense through trespass.  Christ offers us a way, and it is a way that is meant not only for these future leaders of His Church, but for all of us.  In the midst of the scandalous -- whatever that may be -- let us consider His teachings and His wisdom.  He gives us His way, and it is a way of humility and repentance for those who would be greatest among us.  We represent Him and His kingdom in this world; let us be in compliance with what He teaches.  We can look all around ourselves and see violations of power on every scale and in all kinds of dimensions of the society.  In today's reading,  Jesus promises that we all will be tested.  But He offers us His way; let us practice what He so strongly advocates and teaches.  Let us be those who remember Him, and have salt in ourselves and peace with one another.