Scandalized

MK 9:38-43, 45, 47-48
Twenty-sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin…

Scholars say rather than understanding this to mean an innocent child it is to be understood as any insignificant person without hope of earthly reward.

Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna…

The Greco-Roman use of the body as a description of the community. Here is used to describe the necessity of the removal from community the one who would lead the community into Gehenna.

This may or may not be the situation in this historic confrontation. It is useful as a teaching tool.

Let me address it this way. How do I describe relationships to 10th graders?

There are for the most part three types of relationships:

• Friendship – mutual self-giving.
• Alliances – contracts and secrets.
• Domination – demands and subjection.

The only one worth having is friendship.

You have lived on earth in luxury and pleasure; you have fattened your hearts for the day of slaughter. You have condemned; you have murdered the righteous one; he offers you no resistance.

Sometimes you need to remove the offender to preserve the community. Sometimes you need to leave the community to preserve yourself.

Blessings,
Deacon Gerry