GOSPEL READING REFLECTION
FOR SEPTEMBER 26
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Year B
********************************************************************************************************
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone were put
around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.”
Seriously?
Does Jesus really mean this literally?
Should we really cut off our hand if it causes us to sin?
He goes on to say that we should also cut off our foot and
pluck out our eye if it causes us to sin.
Some early Church Fathers see this Scripture as a
reference to our intimate friends.
Its context is that we ought not lead others into scandal and sin.
In fact, it would be better to wear "a great millstone”
and be thrown into the sea (i.e., drown!)
than to cause another to sin.
Friends, especially close friends, are usually a blessing,
but they can also be a cause for us to sin.
If someone intentionally convinces a good friend to sin,
this is a grave issue!
And it is the heart of what Jesus is addressing.
He’s telling us that if we have close friends who intentionally,
perhaps even maliciously tempt us to turn from God,
(perhaps someone who doesn't believe in God
or anyone who doesn't understand
why you live according to morals they find hard)
it’s better that we let go of that “friend,” cut him or her off.
The hand, foot or eye represents those friends
who work hard to draw us to sin.
It’s better for these friendships to end
than be drawn into Hell.
And if we are the “friend” drawing others to sin,
it’s better for us to cut off our friendship
so that we don't tempt others to eternal damnation,
perhaps in what we see (pornography) and talk about (gossip!)
or in encouraging intimate relationships that need to be kept secret.
