Mark 9:41-50
Jesus said to
his disciples, ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you
belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his
reward. ‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones
who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round
his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better
for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell,
into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin,
cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet
and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out;
it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to
have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their
fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but
if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in
yourselves and be at peace with one another.’
Ecclesiasticus
5:1-5
Do not give your
heart to your money, or say, ‘With this I am self-sufficient.’ Do not be led by
your appetites and energy to follow the passions of your heart. And do not say,
‘Who has authority over me?’ for the Lord will certainly be avenged on you. Do
not say, ‘I sinned, and what happened to me?’ for the Lord’s forbearance is
long. Do not be so sure of forgiveness that you add sin to sin. And do not say,
‘His compassion is great, he will forgive me my many sins’; for with him are
both mercy and wrath, and his rage bears heavy on sinners. Do not delay your
return to the Lord, do not put it off day after day; for suddenly the Lord’s
wrath will blaze out, and at the time of vengeance you will be utterly
destroyed. Do not set your heart on ill-gotten gains, they will be of no use to
you on the day of disaster.
Food for
thought!
These two
readings have one thing in common: NOT TO TAKE ANYTHING FOR GRANTED.
1. Do not take any deed for too small. It means that any kindness shown, any
help given, to God's people will not lose its reward. Jesus is telling us that
everybody in need has a claim upon us because s/he is dear to Christ. Had Jesus
still been here in the flesh he would have helped that man in the most
practical way and the duty of help has devolved on us, Christians. It is to be
noted how simple the help is. A cup of cold water. We are not asked to do great
things for others, things beyond our power. We are asked to give the simple
things that anybody can give; we can all afford a cup of water.
2. Do not take anybody for too small to matter: "anyone who is an
obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better
thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck." To sin is terrible but to
teach another to sin is infinitely worse, even when the other is a small child.
3. Do not say, ‘I sinned, and what happened to me?’ for the Lord’s
forbearance is long.
4. Do not be so sure of forgiveness that you add sin to sin. And do not
say, ‘His compassion is great, he will forgive me my many sins’; for with him
are both mercy and wrath, and his rage bears heavy on sinners.
5. Do not delay your return to the Lord, do not put it off day after day;
for suddenly the Lord’s wrath will blaze out, and at the time of vengeance you
will be utterly destroyed.
6. Do not set your heart on ill-gotten gains, they will be of no use to you
on the day of disaster.
1
Corinthians 10:11-12
So when you see
someone failing and falling into sin or disrepute don't laugh but pray; don’t
be so naïve and self-confident. You’re not exempt. You could fail and fall flat
on your face as easily as the person you laughing at. Forget about
self-confidence; it’s useless. Cultivate God-confidence. Therefore let anyone
who thinks he stands [who feels sure that he has a steadfast mind and is
standing firm], take heed lest he too fall into sin and disrepute.
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