Mark 9:41-50

Lectio (Reading)

Read the passage twice and get a sense of what it is saying. Pay attention to what strikes you.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“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 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.”

Meditatio (Reflecting)

Slowly read the passage again, pausing on words or phrases that stands out. Take time to consider the meaning. particularly in your life.

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.

Oratio (Responding)

Read the passage again, slowly. Consider how God has spoken to you and respond back to Him. You may want to consider how this passage is asking you to act differently.

A millstone is a big heavy rock that was used to crush an grind wheat into flower. Big ones could be as tall as person, weighing thousands of pounds, but even in its smallest form, they could be as large as coffee table and weigh hundreds of pounds. Either way, once tied to your neck and thrown into the sea, there is only one outcome for you, you will be pulled to the bottom and drown. Sounds like a terrible way to die… But whatever the size of the stone, this is a pretty dire warning.

We all have children in our lives, and we all are called to watch over and protect them. All children are deeply loved by the Lord. If any of us were to do something that caused them to sin, or even taught them to sin, God will not take that lightly. I think the implication here is clear, He is talking about the torment of hell, and a punishment far worse than death. So we need to be very careful of how we lead and teach those under our authority.

Please understand that this does not mean that, even despite our best efforts that those children can still fall away anyway and choose sin for themselves, but it must not be due to our direct action, or our negligence. This is a high bar, but Jesus loves the little children, and their pain cries out to the Lord for justice, and He will respond.

Contemplatio (Contemplating)

Take time to simply remain in the presence of God.

Resolutio (Resolving)

Make a resolution that will improve your life, your relationships, or your faith. Make it small and attainable, and do it.

Oh lord, please help me today to be a good role model for my children and a righteous leader for their upbringing. Amen.