Gospel – Mark 9:38-48
At that time, John said to Jesus,
“Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name,
and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.”
Jesus replied, “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.
For whoever is not against us is for us.
Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
“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.
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,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
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,
where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'”
Reflection on the Gospel
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
I rejoice and tremble at the good news in this gospel passage.
The angels of these little ones constantly behold the face of our heavenly Father.
Yet, Jesus chose me to teach them.
What good news this is.
It is accompanied by a great challenge.
I must never cause any of these little ones to sin.
The Founder teaches that I must not let any wrongdoing on their part go without being corrected.
The same applies to me.
I must correct all my wrongdoing.
I must always do the right thing and always lead by example.
Saint John Baptist de La Salle – Pray for us.
Live, Jesus, in our hearts – Forever.