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 the region of Caesarea Philippi 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 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.

"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.'"  My study Bible comments that Christ's references to mutilation in today's passage (cut it off, pluck it out) are illustrations of decisive action to avoid sin.  They are not advocacy for literal amputation.  These images also apply to harmful relationships that must be severed for the salvation of all parties (see Luke 14:26; 1 Corinthians 5:5).  Jesus quotes from Isaiah 66:24.  Here we may consider the transgressions and selfish actions which a hand may commit against little ones; it reaches out to strike, or to grab something that does not belong to oneself.  A hand may point an accusing finger against the innocent.

"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.'"  A foot may trespass over boundaries not meant to be crossed, into territory where we don't belong.  It may be used to kick another, especially harmful to a "little one."  Let us note that such abusive actions may also be figurative, illustrative of actions that take place on a social or personal level of harm, insult, or injury in a psychological sense.

"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.'"  An eye covets what does not belong to oneself, or it looks with envy and malevolence.  Our eye may also be "bad" or "evil" in the sense that we don't properly see the person we behold, but cast them in a false negative light. 

"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."  To be seasoned with fire is to be tested to see if one's faith and works are genuine, my study Bible teaches.  See 1 Corinthians 3:11-15.   As Jesus says every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt, He quotes Leviticus 2:13.  There, my study Bible explains, salt stands for the remembrance of God's covenant with God's people.  Because salt had preservative powers, was necessary for life, and has the ability to give flavor, it takes on religious and sacrificial significance.  To eat salt with someone, my study Bible adds, meant to be bound together in loyalty.  See also Matthew 5:13 in the Sermon on the Mount, in which Jesus calls believers "the salt of the earth."

Jesus seems to take great care here to caution the disciples against abuses of power -- especially abuses of the "little ones" in the Church.  These little ones can be thought of as all those who are humble, as my study Bible says, and those without clout or power, who come to faith within that framework of the poor in spirit who need and depend upon God and their faith.  As we know all too well thanks to popular notions of psychology, abuse (especially to the powerless, "little," or humble) often leads to great harm to a person -- making it that much more likely they will sin and pass on that harm and abuse to others.  We would do well to remind ourselves over and over again that the whole point of Christ's teaching is here, when He says, "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."  To cause one of these little ones to stumble could mean to place a stumbling block or snare before them, such as false or misleading teachings that include abuses of power by those who would be hierarchs or authorities in the Church.  Such stumbling blocks and temptations may also include various forms of abuse itself, of which we have become all too aware in the Church, or practices that scandalize the little ones and help to drive them away or to reject the faith.  Recovery from such stumbling blocks and scandals can be long and hard, and one must overcome one's own bad experiences in order to return to the road of faith, especially within the Church.  When we look at scandals, abuses, and bad practices, particularly within the purview of the Church -- or even by believers who are, after all, representatives to the world of our faith -- then we should think of these verses.  They are strong (indeed, the strongest possible) advocacy by Jesus to look to our own behaviors and take all measures to correct them.  This is the case even if changing one's own habits feels as difficult as cutting off a cherished body part (a hand, a foot, an eye).  Christ's thrice-repeated reminder of an eternal torment (Isaiah 66:24) is the strongest possible warning against offenses that cause the little ones who believe in Him to stumble.  Equally stunning is His remark that it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea."  Since we know that Jesus does not choose words flippantly or lightly, we'd better pay close attention to that word, "better," for this is again a dire and stark warning.  In Luke 12:48, Jesus says in reply to a question by Peter, "For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more."  Therefore we must consider that the greater the responsibility, and the more understanding we have of our faith, the more incumbent Christ's warnings become for us.  For it is yet another temptation to let greater authority persuade us that we may relax our own diligence and self-awareness.  In truth, the need we have for vigilance in this respect only grows in such circumstances.  Perhaps that's why it is wisdom to consider that whoever desires to be first shall be last of all and servant of all.  As we are each ambassadors for our faith in some sense, as we may each represent our faith to others, Christ's words remain essential to our awareness.  Let us consider as well another teaching from yesterday's reading, that when we behold one of the little ones who belong to Him (in His name), we not only behold Christ, but also the Father who sent Him.  Once again, as we remind ourselves that we are in Lent, let us receive Christ's words with all the seriousness with which He gives them to us.

And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him

 

 Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.  Take heed to yourselves.  If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."  So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you.  And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'?  But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?  Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?  I think not.  So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do.'"

 

- Luke 17:1-10 

 

In yesterday's reading, Jesus taught the following parable:  "There was a certain rich man who was clothed in purple and fine linen and fared sumptuously every day.  But there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, full of sores, who was laid at his gate, desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man's table.  Moreover, the dogs came and licked his sores.  So it was that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels to Abraham's bosom.  The rich man also died and was buried.  And being in torments in Hades, he lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom.  Then he cried and said, 'Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus that he may dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.'  But Abraham said, 'Son, remember that in your lifetime you received your good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things; but now he is comforted and you are tormented.  And besides all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed, so that those who want to pass from here to you cannot, nor can those from there pass to us.'  Then he said, 'I beg you therefore, father, that you would send him to my father's house, for I have five brothers, that he may testify to them, lest they also come to this place of torment.'  Abraham said to him, 'They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.'  And he said, 'No, father Abraham; but if one goes to them from the dead, they will repent.'  But he said to him, 'If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.'"

 

  Then He said to the disciples, "It is impossible that no offenses should come, but woe to him through whom they do come!  It would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were thrown into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones."  Yesterday's parable, of Lazarus and the Rich Man, was given in response to the scorn of the Pharisees, especially regarding our use of wealth and other resources in a compassionate way.  But today's teaching, we should note, is once again directed to the disciples, and therefore what kind of leadership Christ will ask for in His Church.  My study Bible explains that little ones refers primarily to children, but by extension to anyone whose heart is humble and dependent upon God.  In Matthew 18:1-4, Jesus points to a little child as the model of true discipleship.  My study Bible suggests that this is an emphasis on the virtues required for entrance into the kingdom of heaven:  humility, dependence, lowliness, simplicity, obedience, and a willingness to love and be loved.  Thus "little ones" become those who will grow in faith, the flock of the Church for which these disciples will become responsible stewards.

"Take heed to yourselves.  If your brother sins against you, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him.  And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."  Seven is a number of fullness, meant to indicate an unlimited amount.  Let us note that Luke includes the important acknowledgement of wrongdoing, "I repent."  This is reconciliation, maintaining a family unity in the Church.  In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus gives a formula for mutual correction (Matthew 18:15-20).  

And the apostles said to the Lord, "Increase our faith."  So the Lord said, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."  My study Bible tells us that the mulberry tree is symbolic of the devil's works.  This is because silkworms feed on the leaves of the mulberry tree, and worms are an image of hell (Mark 9:42-48).  It notes that this patristic interpretation is confirmed by many scriptural images of evil being destroyed in the sea (Luke 8:33; Exodus 14:27; Matthew 21:21; Revelation 20:10).  

"And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, 'Come at once and sit down to eat'?  But will he not rather say to him, 'Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink'?  Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him?  I think not."  My study Bible comments that the servant plowing is mentioned first and the one tending sheep second, which shows that one must first work out one's own salvation (Philippians 2:12) before one can become a shepherd of others.  Thus, it becomes an important instruction to these future leaders of the Church.

"So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, 'We are unprofitable servants.  We have done what was our duty to do.'"  My study Bible says that this word translated as unprofitable literally means "without merit" in Greek.  Ultimately, its meaning is to say they are useless, unneeded because unhelpful.  But my study Bible is quick to point out that this does not mean they are without intrinsic value.  The emphasis is on participation in this life of the Kingdom.  My study Bible explains that it means that everything we have comes from God and is owed back to God.  There is nothing we can offer to God that does not already belong to God.  See Psalm 50.

In today's reading, the apostles demand of Jesus, "Increase our faith."  He tells them in response, "If you have faith as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, 'Be pulled up by the roots and be planted in the sea,' and it would obey you."  Now both the demand and the response are interesting.  The first is interesting because the disciples demand of Christ to increase their faith because He's given them this difficult command about forgiveness in the first verses of today's reading.  He warns them about offenses to the "little ones" of the flock, and the dire consequences to those who harm these little ones.  But then He speaks about offenses within their community.  A sin against oneself may be met by a rebuke, but if repentance comes, forgiveness is commanded.  This is not an if/and/but/or statement; there is no doubt what Jesus is commanding here.  He makes this exaggerated to make a point:  "And if he sins against you seven times in a day, and seven times in a day returns to you, saying, 'I repent,' you shall forgive him."   It is to this statement that they respond with a demand to increase their faith, and then Jesus teaches them the power of just a little faith, akin to a tiny mustard seed -- and that the power of this tiny level of faith is such that a mulberry tree -- a symbolic image of feeding death and evil -- may cast itself into the sea by its roots at one's command.   Effectively, Jesus makes the connection between the right-relatedness of those within the Church, through correction and forgiveness, and faith that has the power to defy the darkness and death of evil.  Now that is a powerful statement about what the Church can be, about what it means to be reconciled to one another, about what impact our faith can have when we put the things into practice that Christ teaches us.  Imagine what it means to be reconciled to one another and really form the Body of Christ between brothers and sisters who can recognize an offense, correct, repent, and forgive.  This must certainly be the picture of what good relationships are within the Church, but more importantly, what it means to build the Kingdom -- and the power of faith -- here in this world.  Imagine if we all worked to make our parishes such a model of relatedness to one another, to building faith, and to the power of that faith against the forces of death in this world, the things that are destructive in nature, the things that do not nurture life, and cause suffering.  So, ultimately, we can take today's reading and find this crucial, important, central message upon which so much else hinges:  how do we, as "profitable" servants, take it seriously that we seek to build right-relatedness in this world in all that we say and do?  How do we take responsibility to serve Christ in this sense, simply that we seek to do our part to be in the type of communion with others that He says we should?  That is, we care for the little ones, we acknowledge our own faults and repent them, and we're also willing to call out an offense when it occurs to us.  This latter can be a hard thing to do, especially when we think that things will be better if we let something pass, or it's just easier to go gossip or complain about it to someone else.  What we should not forget about is the role of faith in all of this, and that when relationships become tricky and difficult we can always take it to prayer to find our way to negotiate through it.  Perhaps we have a pastor or other person we trust to confide in, or perhaps we simply need to leave it to God and see how things progress.  But right-relatedness, in Christ's sight, is clearly presented here as powerful, and as building up the faith that brings life into this world, and counters the forces which deaden and corrupt.  How do we build this Church?  How do we build this Body of Christ?  Sometimes there will be those whom we simply have to let go, which we also read about in the Scriptures (Matthew 18:17, 1 Corinthians 5:5).  But our work is to follow the Master in His teachings, to build the faith through the practices He gives us.  For if we don't live our faith, we are indeed useless servants.  Let us take these teachings as seriously as they're given to us.