Gospel for September 27 with reflections

Mark 9:38-50
John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell., And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
"For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."


From today's Gospel reading:"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off....If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.... And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

"Reflection:Jesus tells us to cut off a hand or foot or pluck out an eye if they cause us to sin. We get the point -- don't we? Sin is serious, not just for us, but for the community. One person might sin; but the whole community suffers -- especially "the little ones" -- those whose faith is vulnerable. He's calling us to make whatever changes we must to live his life, He knows making serious change can be as painful as cutting off a limb.

So he is here to encourage and enable us. So we ask ourselves: What necessary changes must I make now to follow Jesus more closely?What's holding me back?Do I believe he will be there to help me, once I determine to do something? The Rev. John Boll OP, The Preachers Exchange