Reading Reflections Twenty-sixth Sunday Gospel B

By 10:47 AM


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."

  • What is your first reflection on this statement by John the apostle? Why?

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.

  • What is Jesus saying? Jesus is more inclusive that some of us are.
  • Who do we exclude from fellowship with Jesus because of our own prejudices?

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.

  • If this is true of someone to you, would it not also be true of you to someone else?

"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.'

  • Does Jesus want us to take him literally? Does Jesus want us to take him seriously? What is the difference?
  • What areas in your life do you need to take Jesus more seriously lest you experience the fires of Gehenna that Jesus refers to?
  • Do you recognize the seriousness of our relationship with others in regards how we live our lives?
  • We teach more by actions than by words. What actions need to be change in your life as a result of this passage?

 

 

 

You Might Also Like

0 comments