When I reflect on this gospel reading, I can’t help but realize how God welcomes all in our faith. We as humans tend to fall into our tendencies where we compare ourselves to one another or the person next to us, because that is how our society has built us to look at the world. We need to understand that we are no better than the person next to us. We cannot put others down to lift up ourselves. If someone is of a different religion, race, gender, etc. we must be able to find it in our hearts to show compassion and love as Jesus taught us.
I look at our world today with the violence and hate. It’s not enough to just talk about it, but we need to do something about it. Come together with one another to stop the violence and hate in our community. If we lead with our own understanding and not by the way of the Lord that is what leads us away from our true Catholic faith and makes us sin. When we act in this way God paints this intense vivid picture in the Gospel reading where we must cut off our hand, cut off your foot, pluck out your eye if these things cause us to sin. God really is trying to tell us that we must hold strong in the way of Jesus Christ and not of our own understanding. All things are possible through Christ. When we live in this way, we live in the light of love and sin is no longer present.
“For whoever is not against us is for us.” All are welcome and all belong in our Christian faith. We should not turn anyone away especially if they cause no harm. God is good all the time!
Peace and love,
Vince
Readings at USCCB.org Living the Word resource
First Reading: Numbers 11:25-29
Psalm: 19:8, 10, 12-13, 14
Second Reading: James 5:1-6
Gospel: Mark 9:38-43, 45, 47-48