Mark 9:41-50

Today the evangelist Mark tells us about several small teachings that Jesus gave to His disciples.

He said that would not lose a reward the person who gave a cup of water to drink to someone who belonged to Him.

Here we see that even small gestures of solidarity are noticed by God and rewarded. This is an additional motivation for us to be generous.

Later Jesus said that, for the person who causes one of those little ones who believe to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstonewere put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

Here we see how God cares about the simplest faithful who, due to scandals, could lose their faith. It is necessary to live the faith with coherence, thus supporting the spiritual growth of those who are simple.

Jesus then said that if a member of someone's body caused him to sin, it would be better to cut it off in order to enter into Life, into the Kingdom of God. Otherwise, the person would be thrown into hell, the Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.

Here we see that, in view of the greater good, which is our salvation, we must be willing to remove from our lives anything that hinders us from living holiness.

Finally, Jesus said that salt was good, and that the disciples should keep salt in themselves and have peace with one another.

Here we see that we carry many values ​​within us and that we cannot lose them, but rather use them, because they can help make our coexistence more peaceful.

The language used by the evangelist Mark today is very vivid, with impactful expressions. We must be very careful to interpret the text correctly, rejecting the literal understanding, biblical fundamentalism.

Local: Springfield, MA, EUA

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