Apply Within

At that time, John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. "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. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'" (Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48)

“For whoever is not against us is for us.” This saying is a bit too optimistic.  Ambivalence can create many fence-sitters unwilling to commit one way or the other.  Therefore, it is up to all of us to make a convincing case for Christianity and Catholicism in particular.  This case can best be made by our behavior so we better be good for goodness sake.  Jesus is coming to town soon and to a place very near us.

I especially like this warning: "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.”  I suspect there are many millstones off Cape Cod in deep waters, but not serving as lobster habitat (although that would work).  

We do cause people to sin when they model our behavior that is supposed to be Christ-like, but often is more like Lucifer’s.  No one wants to be where the “worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.”  Lucifer has those apartments ready for us at no charge – just our souls as compensation.  

We need to keep all our hands, feet, and eyes.  When we sin, we will need all six body parts to set us back on the proper road paved with right and just yellow bricks.  There will not be any wizard at the end of that road just Jesus who will point to the entrance of the Kingdom of God having attached to its door the sign “More Workers Needed for Mighty Deeds.  Apply Within.”  

Deacon David Pierce