In this week's edition of There's more in the Gospel than meets the eye, Jill
Bevilacqua and Seàn Patrick Lovett bring us readings and reflections for the Twentysixth
Sunday of the Year. Listen:
GospelMk 9:38-43,45,47-48
At that
time, 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." 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. 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 if 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.'"