Mark 9:41-50 NRSVue
41For 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.
42“If any of you cause one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to sin, 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., 45And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell.,, 47And if your eye causes you to sin, 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,, 48where their worm never dies and the fire is never quenched.
49“For everyone will be salted with fire., 50Salt is good, but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
“Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.”
Reflection on Mark 9:41-50
Inspiration from 2025-02-27 Daily Prayer
In our living the values of the kingdom of God, we must have our priorities. Our God must always come first, even at the cost of our lives. Jesus was never willing to compromise with the truth. When they could not accept his teaching about giving them his own body to eat, he simply let them walk away. What are the false gods in my life that try, at times, to take priority over God?
Jesus warns us very strongly against leading others astray by our bad example. We all have the responsibility to witness to our faith. Let us pray especially for parents in their task of bringing up their children in the faith.
Further reflection
‘A cup of water…’ Even in small actions we contribute to shaping the society and civilization we live in.
Have I ever placed a stumbling block before ‘one of these little ones’ whom Jesus fiercely defends? I too am one of the ‘little ones’ and he defends me too.