The Pain is Nothing Compared To Being With You

The Pain is Nothing Compared To Being With You

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

26^th Sunday in Ordinary Time

Introduction

Today’s Gospel tells us something about who is included in God’s kingdom and who is not. The disciples were quick to exclude someone who was doing something good simply because he was not one of them. Jesus, however, explains to them that God’s kingdom belongs to all who are righteous and do good. It is those who sin who will be excluded from the kingdom. Jesus then offers some radical solutions that would make one eligible to enter God’s kingdom.

The Gospel

It was perhaps one of those days when the disciples were on their own and were not in the company of Jesus. On that day, they witnessed someone driving out demons, just like the way Jesus did. What surprised them, however, was that this stranger was casting out demons in Jesus’ name. They tried to stop the stranger from what he was doing because the stranger was not one of them.  

They then reported the incident to Jesus, thinking that they have done the right thing. Jesus, however, corrects them saying: “ 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. “  

Furthermore, Jesus tried to dispel this kind of exclusive thinking from his disciples by telling them: “Whoever is not against us is for us. Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, will surely not lose his reward.” Jesus acknowledges that all who do good in his name are united and bonded together in God’s kingdom.

Notwithstanding, however, Jesus’ efforts to dispel the idea of exclusivity from his disciples, he was clear about those who would be excluded from God’s kingdom. He said: “ 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. “

He then continued saying : “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.” He says something similar when he said: “ 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.”

It was really sin that would make one ineligible to enter God’s kingdom. And the price to pay is the kind of isolation similar to what happens in Gehenna.

Gehenna is the name of a place southwest of Jerusalem called the valley of Hinnom. It was in this place where the ancient Israelites performed child sacrifices to a god named Molek. Eventually, in time, it became a place where they incinerated everything that the ancient city of Jerusalem wanted to dispose of. Hence, the image of an unending fire where worms do not die was a familiar sight for Jews who knew where all the waste of the city were dumped and incinerated.  

Jesus then proposed some radical solutions to enter the Kingdom. The hacking of body parts might seem gross. But the intention for using such gross language might drive home the point that a radical break away from whatever is sinful is what it takes to enter life in God’s kingdom.

Reflection

Our narrow understanding of inclusivity can at times limit our perceptions. The disciples made the mistake of excluding a stranger simply because he was not one of them. Jesus, on the other hand corrects them and tells them that all who do good in his name form part of that inclusive gathering he calls the Kingdom of God; a gathering where God’s will is done; a gathering where love, goodness and kindness reign supreme.

But there is one thing that this kingdom doesn’t include – and that is sin. If there is anything exclusive about this kingdom it is the exclusion of sin. Apparently, there seems to be no compromise when it comes to sin. And since there are no compromises regarding sin, Jesus proposes some radical solutions; so radical, in fact, that he uses rather some gross and perhaps even violent language to describe the radicality of such solutions.

Simply put, Jesus tells us to break away from what is sinful. He tells us to break away and part from anything that causes us to sin, even if this would mean the severance of something that would cause us great and intense pain; pain as when one severs one’s hands and plucks one’s eyes. The solutions proposed by Jesus tell us just how difficult it is for us to part ways from our sinful ways and habits.

But the radical and painful solutions that Jesus proposes and the fiery images he employs to describe the fate of those who do not enter the kingdom can shake us and fire up our imagination.

The use of such language eventually helps us in making that enlightened choice; that it is indeed better to cut off our ties with sin, rather than spend the rest of eternity burning up in Gehenna. Jesus persuades and tries to convince us to give up our sinful ways and inclinations. He tells us that it’s simply not worth it.

In the end, Jesus wants us to join the inclusive gathering of God’s kingdom. He tells us that even if we experience the pain of cutting away our hands, plucking  out our eyes as we part from our sinful ways, God’s kingdom is all worth it and that nothing will ever compare to the life we shall have with him in his kingdom.

Prayer

Dear Lord, you know how difficult it is for me to part from my sinful ways. You compared the pain of parting with sin with the pain of cutting off my hands and plucking out my eyes. But you tell me that the pain is nothing compared to the joy of being with you in your kingdom. Help me Jesus to part with my sinful ways and inclinations. Amen.

 “ No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no heart has imagined, what God has prepared for those who love Him. “ – 1 Cor. 2: 9 

For more Gospel reflections like this, visit my blog:  thevineyardlaborer.blogspot.com