“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 it 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. Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another (Mk. 9:42-50).”
Jesus warned of the consequences for anyone who puts an obstacle in the path of a member of the community of disciples that could cause them to sin. Sin must be avoided so that our souls do not end up in Gehenna. The term Gehenna came to represent the place of eternal punishment. Jesus quoted from Isaiah; “For their worm shall not die, their fire shall not be extinguished; and they shall be an abhorrence to all flesh (Is. 66:24).” Rather, we must strive to enter into the kingdom of God, the place of eternal life. Everyone will be purified during the period of suffering before the final coming of the kingdom of God. If the disciples lose their faith who will restore it? They must purify themselves by remaining in Christ (Jn. 15:4) and the community will be at peace.
Almighty God, as St. Paul said, we do not do the good we want, but we do the evil we do not want. Grant us the grace to stay focused on Christ and the strength to do your will. This we pray through Christ our Lord. Amen!
References:
Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.
Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.
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