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 flavor, how will you season it?  Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another." 

 

- Mark 9:42–50 

 

On Saturday we read that Jesus and the disciples 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 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."  My study Bible comments that little ones include all who have childlike humility and simplicity, all who are poor in spirit.   Let us begin today's reading also by understanding that it is connected to the things we read in Saturday's reading, above, in which Jesus spoke of receiving "little ones" (compared to and illustrated by a little child) and also strangers in His name, as if we are receiving Him -- and not only Him but the One who sent Him also.  

 

"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.'"   This strong warning, with its stark images of mutilation, is so important that this language appears twice in St. Matthew's Gospel, once in the Sermon on the Mount, and again in private teaching to the disciples, as here reported by St. Mark (see Matthew 5:29-30; 18:8-14).  Here also we note that this warning is so strong that Jesus brings to it language of images of hell (see Isaiah 66:24) and eternal suffering from fire.  

 

 "For everyone will be seasoned with fire, and every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt.  Salt is good, but if the salt loses 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).  This is similar to testing the purity of gold, for example, by fire, for impurities will burn away.  We should keep in mind that the Holy Spirit is also understood through images of fire.  In saying that every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt, He is quoting from Leviticus 2:13, in which salt stands for the remembrance of God's covenant with God's people.  Because of its preservative powers, its necessity for life, and its ability to give flavor, my study Bible says, salt had both religious and sacrificial significance.  To eat salt with someone meant to be bound together in loyalty.  As the salt of the earth, Christians are preservers of God's covenant and give true flavor to the world (see also Numbers 18:19; 2 Chronicles 13:5).  

 

Jesus' reminder about salt in His final words in today's passage reminds us that His teachings to His disciples (including all the faithful) are given to us in the context of covenant.  All of His teachings are included in that covenant with us, our own loyalty to our Lord.  For He is the One through whom salvation comes, and so it is within our following of Him that we are bound to His teachings.   In today's reading, Jesus has extremely harsh words of warning for the disciples.  These follow immediately upon His teachings about power and authority and "greatness" in His Church and Kingdom.  In those teachings, we were given the basis for the expression of love that permeates authority in God's Kingdom, and should be always present in the Church.  Even the "least of these," even the little children received in His name, must be received as if we receive Christ Himself -- and by extension, even the Father who sent Him.  It is the same for strangers who act in His name, and even those who do the least action in His name, and for any who show the smallest act of mercy to one who is "in His name" (who belongs to Him).   In this sense, authority and grace are connected, and service is the watchword for greatness, as is humility.  But all of these gracious teachings permeated with a generous love, are not without their harsh and strict warnings that are coupled with them in today's reading.  For those who violate this law of service and humility and love - who commit offense which causes one of these little ones who believe in Him to stumble, the consequences are as dire and as grave as He states in His warning.  Moreover, to take swift action to deal with our own abusive behavior -- our indulgences or tendencies which lead to any violation of His teaching about service and humility -- is the only course of action.  Jesus uses physical amputation of diseased limbs or an eye to save one's entire body as an image of what it is to save one's life in the spiritual sense.  An eye may look with covetousness, fastening improperly on what is inappropriate or what does not belong to us.  A hand can stray either in a rebuke or a physical altercation, or to reach out to take or grab where it should not.  A foot may stray or trespass over boundaries that need to be respected.  Our own impulses to abuse or offense -- especially to the least powerful and most humble -- are those things which Jesus warns against most starkly here in the context of what it is to be great, to become a leader and teacher among those in His flock, to be given His authority.   The abuse of this station of authority conferred by Christ is treated most seriously by Him, indicating to us how important it is that authority in the Church -- and our understanding of what greatness is -- be understood in the way that Christ teaches.  For in His name so much and so many become an icon of Christ, teaching us what it means to respect holiness and the preciousness of a soul. Most particularly, it teaches us about salvation and the important status that confers:  a priceless assignment, and the most worthy of efforts.  For the solemnity of such a task cannot be overestimated.