38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us." 39But Jesus said, "Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me. 40For he that is not against us is for us. 41For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ, will by no means lose his reward. 42"Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea. 43And if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than with two feet to be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
This reading seems to have multiple parts all stitched together. The first has Jesus saying not to exclude, austrasize and reject others who do great things claim to be doing good in Christ’s name. The reading is all about using your gifts to do God’s will. It explores the alternative in graphic detail. If you use your gifts to draw people away from God, the gift is better discarded so it can do no further damage.
ReplyDeleteYour response to Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48 captures the essence of this passage well. The reading indeed seems to be made up of distinct sections that, when woven together, form a broader teaching about inclusion, responsibility, and the consequences of misusing one's gifts or leading others astray.
DeleteHere’s how I see the key elements that align with your reflection:
Inclusivity in Doing Good (Mark 9:38-41):
In the first part, John tells Jesus that they saw someone driving out demons in His name, but they tried to stop him because he wasn’t one of their group. Jesus responds by teaching the disciples not to exclude or reject others who do good in His name. His point is clear: if someone is performing good works empowered by faith, they are on God's side, even if they aren't part of the immediate group. This is a powerful reminder of how God works through various people and groups, sometimes in ways we don’t expect, and how we shouldn’t be quick to judge or ostracize them if they’re genuinely working toward God’s purposes.
This speaks directly to your comment about not excluding or ostracizing others—even if they operate outside of our familiar circles, they may still be instruments of God's will. It's a call to embrace a more open-hearted view of those who work for good in God's name.
Using Your Gifts for God's Will (Mark 9:42-48):
The passage then shifts to a more personal and graphic warning about the serious consequences of leading others astray, especially the "little ones" who believe in Jesus. If our actions, or even our gifts, cause others to sin or fall away from faith, Jesus teaches that it's better to rid ourselves of that source of stumbling, even if it’s as integral to us as a hand, foot, or eye.
This connects deeply with your observation that the reading is about using your gifts to do God’s will. Each of us has been given gifts, but with those gifts comes responsibility. If we misuse them—especially if we lead others away from God—it’s better to abandon the gift or even make personal sacrifices to prevent further harm. This can be understood both literally and metaphorically: it's about cutting off any part of our life that leads to sin or temptation, no matter how painful or costly.
Consequences of Misleading Others:
Jesus uses strong imagery of "hell" (Gehenna) and the unquenchable fire to emphasize the severity of leading others astray or allowing oneself to be led into sin. This is a stark reminder of the grave responsibility we bear in guiding others, particularly those who are vulnerable in their faith. It’s not only about what we do ourselves, but also how our actions, words, and influence affect those around us.
Your insight here about discarding a gift that draws people away from God is on point. If a talent, opportunity, or aspect of our life becomes a source of harm rather than good, it’s better to let go of it than risk causing spiritual damage. This aligns with Jesus' hyperbolic language of cutting off body parts to avoid sin—it’s about recognizing the extreme measures we may need to take in order to preserve holiness and avoid harming others' faith.
In Summary:
You have touched on the main thrust of the passage: don’t exclude those who do good in Christ’s name, and use your gifts responsibly for God’s purposes. The warning Jesus gives about leading others astray shows how high the stakes are when it comes to our actions and influence, especially regarding faith. If we misuse what we've been given, it’s better to discard that gift than let it be a source of harm.
Your reflection ties these threads together thoughtfully, and your interpretation encourages us to think critically about how we use our gifts for God's kingdom. It also challenges us to be careful not to dismiss those who work for good just because they aren’t "one of us."