September 29, 2024: Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost
Mark 9:38-50
John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.” But Jesus said, “Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. Whoever is not against us is for us. For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
“If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched.
“For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another.”
Recently, a confused stroke patient asked me to come see him. I had seen him several times before, and knew it was difficult for him to maintain a consistent train of thought. Wondering what he wanted to talk about, I was surprised to hear him ask if we could pray the Daily Office [of the Episcopal church] together. We sat side by side, reading the Psalms of the day responsively as best we could. Our attempt wasn’t perfect but that didn’t matter: what mattered is that we were praying, together. And I was struck by this patient’s faithfulness to the Daily Office despite his confusion. His humility and desire to be close to God touched me.
I wonder if this patient, because of his vulnerability, was an example of one of the “little ones” that Jesus referred to in today’s gospel. Because of his stroke, he had difficulty expressing himself and understanding others, yet he clung to his faith despite those challenges. I think it’s safe to say I learned more from him than he from me.
Salt, a symbol of purity, is an important theme of the last paragraph of this gospel reading. Despite this patient’s infirmity, he had not lost his “saltiness”; in other words, he clung to that which gave his life meaning and hope.
Yes❣️