Homily Sunday -29 September 2024 –XXVI Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)- Rev. Dr. Patrick Mathias SDB

 

Sunday - 29 September 2024 –XXVI Sunday in Ordinary Time (B)

Mass Readings: Num 11: 25-29   Ps 19   Jas 5: 1-6   Mk 9: 38-48

Key Verse to Meditate: 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 (Mk 9:43).

My dear Brothers and Sisters in the Lord,

The Liturgy of the Word on this Twenty-Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time invites us to reflect deeply on several key themes: avoiding scandal to others in the faith, being vigilant about the spiritual dangers that can come from the misuse of our hands, feet, and eyes, and practicing tolerance toward fellow disciples in our journey of faith. We are called to remove anything that leads us to sin, no matter how precious it may seem. This Sunday’s liturgy also emphasizes the importance of practicing patience and acceptance of others as they walk their own paths in the life of faith. The pericope teaches us that sin, as well as leading others into sin, must be avoided at all costs. In today’s second reading, St. James issues a stern warning to the wealthy about the dangers of placing their trust in material riches, which offer a false sense of security. He reminds the Christian community to pursue justice and be mindful of the needs of the poor and marginalized.

First Reading

In our first reading from the Book of Numbers, we encounter Joshua, Moses’ successor, trying to prevent others who were not part of his group from prophesying. The seventy elders had already begun to prophesy when the Spirit of the Lord descended upon them, but two men, Eldad and Medad, who remained in the camp, also received the Spirit and prophesied (Num 11:26). Joshua, concerned by this, asked Moses to stop them. However, Moses, in his wisdom, responded that no one should hinder God’s work: “Would that all the LORD’s people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his Spirit on them!” (Num 11:29). This reminds us that in the working of the Spirit, we are all collaborators, and God’s grace is available to all who welcome the Holy Spirit, regardless of status or position.

Second Reading

St. James, in his letter, condemns the cruelty and luxury of the rich, who often neglect God and act unjustly toward the poor. He observes that many wealthy members of the Christian community were consumed by their desire for riches, believing their wealth provided them with the best life had to offer. St. James warns them of the transitory nature of material prosperity, highlighting the selfishness that blinds them to the needs of the less fortunate, especially the injustice done to farm workers by withholding their rightful wages. He reminds the rich that their selfish use of earthly goods will bring them judgment and condemnation. As St. Luke also emphasizes in his Gospel (Lk 6:24; 16:19-31), St. James calls the wealthy to recognize that their luxurious lifestyles on earth are fleeting and will lead to divine punishment if they neglect justice and mercy.

The Gospel Reading - Giving Scandal to Children

In last Sunday’s Gospel, Jesus invited us to reflect on the humility and lowliness of children as an example for serving others: “Whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me, and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me but the one who sent me” (Mk 9:37). This Sunday’s Gospel (Mk 9:38-48) revisits the theme, focusing on the "little ones" — a term Jesus uses to refer not only to children but also to the marginalized and vulnerable. Jesus warns us of the grave responsibility we have not to lead these “little ones” astray in their faith.

Here, Jesus uses the term ‘scandal’ in a moral sense, referring to words and actions that might cause others, especially the vulnerable, to falter in their beliefs or adopt harmful behaviours. He warns us that those who lead others into sin, particularly those who exploit the faith of the innocent, will face severe consequences. This is one of the moments in the Gospels where Jesus speaks with intense and frightening clarity: “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” (Mk 9:42). Jesus underscores the seriousness of giving scandal, highlighting the deep responsibility we have to nurture, not hinder, the faith of others.

Tolerant Towards Others in the Life of Faith

The Gospel also mirrors the event from the first reading, where John, the beloved apostle, tells Jesus they had tried to stop someone casting out demons in His name because he wasn’t part of their group. But Jesus rebukes them, saying, “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” (Mk 9:39-40).

Why would the apostles want to stop this man? The reasoning stems from their belief that only they, the chosen twelve, had been granted the authority to cast out demons, as seen earlier in the Gospel: “He called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits” (Mk 6:7). This sense of exclusivity led to their misunderstanding of God’s mission. Jesus, however, makes it clear that the work of God is not limited to the apostles alone. God’s grace is not confined to a select few but is poured out on all whom He calls. The apostles had yet to grasp the breadth of God’s plan for the Kingdom — that it extends far beyond their circle.

God is Not About Belonging, But About Love

This passage reminds us that proclaiming the Word of God and performing good works are not the exclusive rights of a chosen few. God’s mission is not about belonging to a particular group or institution but about love and the work of the Spirit. The Church is much larger than the boundaries we often create in our minds. The Spirit of God moves freely, inspiring good in unexpected places. Jesus tells us that anyone who does good, regardless of their affiliation, comes from God: “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” (Mk 9:41).

We must recognize that Christ can be present in those who do not belong to our specific community or share our particular way of following Him. The Church is an instrument of the Kingdom, and the Kingdom is far greater than any one institution. Whoever is not against Jesus and His Spirit is for us, and we should not resist or discourage those who work for good, even if they do so outside our familiar structures.

Take Care of Your Hand, Feet, and Eyes

In today’s Gospel, we encounter one of Christ’s more challenging teachings. Following His stern warning about causing scandal to those of simple faith, Jesus speaks directly to the need for radical action to avoid sin, using the metaphor of the hand, foot, and eye:

"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" (Mk 9:43-47).

If we paraphrase Jesus’ words, we could say that He is warning us to guard our actions, where we go, and what we see. A scandal in faith is anything that causes us to stumble, or prevents us from walking in righteousness. What we do, where we go, and what we see can either lead us closer to God or drag us into sin. This passage may sound extreme, but Jesus is speaking to the seriousness of sin and the lengths we must go to avoid it. Our hands represent what we do, our feet where we go, and our eyes what we see. Jesus uses these metaphors to urge us to be vigilant in our actions, our paths, and what we allow into our hearts through our eyes, for the eye is the window to the soul.

As Christ says in Matthew 6:22-23, “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness.” What enters through the eye deeply affects the heart. If we allow darkness to cloud our vision, it can overwhelm our spirit, leading us into deeper darkness.

Three Aspects of Our Life of Faith

As a wise teacher, Jesus highlights three essential aspects of our faith life: our actions, our journeys, and our perceptions. His message is simple yet profound: we must cut away anything that harms us spiritually, even if it is painful or difficult. Why should we hold onto things that cause us misery, lead us into dangerous compromises, or make us stumble in our spiritual journey?

In our moral and spiritual lives, we are called to part with anything that causes us harm—physically, mentally, or spiritually. Just as we would remove a thorn from our foot to walk comfortably, we must remove harmful influences from our lives to walk joyfully in faith. Whether it is a toxic relationship that disrupts family peace, a bad habit that endangers our health, or an environment that poisons our thoughts, we must have the courage to "cut it out." It is better to experience temporary discomfort now than to live a life that leads us away from God, causing misery for ourselves and others.

The Unquenchable Fire

In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents a stark and urgent call regarding the cost of discipleship. While the Mishnah mentions the loss of an eye, hand, or foot, Jesus goes beyond mere physical examples. He emphasizes that true discipleship leads us to embrace life—life with God, which is nothing less than holiness. Holiness means being "set apart for God" and distanced from sin and our sinful inclinations.

One of the most unsettling verses in this passage is Mark 9:48: "where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched." After warning about the loss of an eye, hand, and foot, Jesus makes the consequences of sin abundantly clear. The phrase "unquenchable fire" is a direct reference to the final verse of the last chapter of the prophet Isaiah (Is 66:24), where Isaiah describes the eternal fate of those who rebel against God.

Jesus uses this powerful image not merely to refer to Gehenna, the burning landfill outside the city, but to something far more terrifying—the unquenchable fire that awaits those who remain in sin after death. It is a place of eternal separation from God. Jesus’ warning is not meant to instil fear alone but to call us to take radical measures in battling sin. As the Letter to the Hebrews reminds us, "You have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood in your striving against sin" (Hebrews 12:4). The fight against sin is a serious one, and it demands our full commitment and sacrifice.

Are we willing to take the necessary steps to root out sin in our lives? Are we prepared to make the difficult decisions that lead us to holiness? Jesus calls us to live in a way that reflects our eternal destiny, to strive for life with God, and to avoid the unquenchable fire.

Points for Personal Reflection

Do I recognize that God’s gifts are bestowed upon many, not just me, and do I appreciate the diversity of those He calls to serve?

Do I understand the gravity of causing scandal, especially to those on their journey of faith?

Jesus’ words are radical, and they challenge us to examine our lives seriously (Mk 9:43). Choosing to remove harmful influences may be painful, but it is necessary for eternal life. Just as a doctor removes cancerous growths to save the patient, we must be willing to cut away sin to preserve our spiritual health. These decisions may bring temporary pain, but they lead to new life, just as the pain of childbirth brings forth a new creation.

The Gospel reminds us that radical choices are often required in the Christian life. Some decisions require firmness, resolve, and the courage to let go of things that lead us into sin. We must ask ourselves:

Do I have the courage to cut off anything—whether actions, habits, or relationships—that leads me away from God?

Let us consider the following questions as points of reflection:

Would it not be worth getting rid of our smartphones if they are leading us into sin?
Would it not be worth stepping away from social media if we find ourselves using it in ways that compromise our faith?
Would it not be better to live without the internet if it becomes a tool of temptation?
Is it not worth cutting off cable TV or streaming services if they cause us to fall into sin?
Would it not be worth reevaluating our careers, or even leaving our jobs, if they compromise our integrity and lead us away from God?
Is it not worth distancing ourselves from certain relationships if they repeatedly cause us to stumble and stray from the path of righteousness?

Jesus asks us to take sin seriously and to remove anything that may cause us or others to fall.

Let us pray for the grace to embrace these radical changes, allowing nothing to hinder our relationship with God or to lead others astray - Amen.

 

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