Reading for Proper
21B
Mark 9:38-48
September 28,2003
The Rev. Karen Siegfriedt
St. Jude the Apostle Episcopal Church, Cupertino,
CA
Jesus said: "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." [Mk. 9]
A few weeks ago, one of our toddlers here at St. Jude's was watching a television show. During one of the scenes, several of the characters began to act out, pushing and shoving, saying hurtful things, and being mean to each other. At this point in the show, Harris stood up and proclaimed: "They need to go sit in their chair!" Harris knew that these characters were not being appropriate and that they needed a "time out" to reflect on their transgressions. This punishment would hopefully result in a changed attitude. Unfortunately, it is not always that easy.
There are many ways to get people's attention when they have erred. One way, (especially with children), is to tell them to go sit in their chair. This is a more gentle approach that may or may not be effective. Another way to call people's attention to bad behavior is by using extreme language as found in today's gospel reading. Telling folks that it would be better to put a millstone around their neck, or to cut of their hand or foot or eye in order to purify themselves, is indeed extreme language. However, this series of commands is not to be taken any more literally than the comments: "I would give my right arm to be in your place." or "Go break a leg!" In his ministry, Jesus did not encourage self-mutilation. In fact, he spent much of his time in healing the sick, the leper, the blind, the deaf, and the sinner. Since the goal of all Scripture is to engender the love of God and the love of one's neighbor, we need to look beyond the literal reading of this text to uncover its wisdom for today. Let's take a closer look.
Jesus said: "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." This metaphor sounds like a tactic from the Mafia (who is famous for sinking its victims with concrete "shoes" into the ocean). Using very strong language that gets our attention, Jesus warns against the consequences of leading someone else astray. As people committed to Christ, we are our brother's and sister's keeper. We are held accountable for our words, actions, or attitudes that lead another person to walk a lower road, descend to second-rate ideals, or cause harm to another person’s soul or psyche. Let me tell you a story that illustrates this point.
Josiah Wedgwood, the well-known English potter of the 18th century, was showing a man and his son through his factory filled with Wedgwood china. During the entire tour, the man used vile and offensive language and made lewd gestures. In the last room, Mr. Wedgwood unlocked the door to a display cabinet and removed an exquisite vase. He pointed out its unique and expensive features. Then he lifted it above his head and dropped it on the floor. It broke into hundreds of pieces. The man let out a foul word and asked: "Why did you do that? I would have paid you almost anything for such a vase." Wedgwood answered: "Sir, I can make another vase just like that one. But no one can replace what you have destroyed, this day, in the soul of your son by acting in such a disgusting manner."
A Christian is called to a higher level of consciousness and concern when it comes to caring for others. We need to be aware of the potential harm our anger, our words, and our actions have on others. Tragically, some of those wounds that we afflict on others, never heal.
Jesus then goes on to address those transgressions or stumbling blocks that hinder our full fellowship with God and each other. Using metaphors (that sound like horror stories coming out of the Middle East after the Persian Gulf War), Jesus says that it would be better to be crippled or blind than to be of sound body and end up being like a piece of garbage which deserves to be burned in the dump.
To remain stuck, self-centered, addicted, mean, angry, or hurtful, is a real loss to the kingdom of God and a painful reminder to the world. This is something to be mourned. The purpose of the religious life is transformation. Transformed people create a transformed world. Without transformation, there is little hope for a peaceful and just world. So what better advice could our Savior offer than to strongly encourage all of us to clean up our act and become a healthy, loving, healing presence in the world?
No hand or foot or eye needs to be sacrificed if we are willing to do the hard work in cleaning up our act. However, we do need to make difficult and costly choices if we are to become what God wills and longs for us to be. Several years ago, there was a full-page advertisement in the New York Times, dealing with the spreading problem of drug abuse on the job. In the advertisement, a young professional woman was being told that she must accept drug counseling if she wanted to keep her job or otherwise, be fired. She was going to be "cut off" unless she was prepared to "cut off" what had become an integral part of herself. The paragraph went on to say that any personnel supervisor who hesitates to force this choice is actually not helping the person. To allow her to continue the drug habit, to allow her to avoid cutting off what has become part of her, is actually allowing her to go deeper into the hell of drugs.
Living lives of holiness, was an integral part of how the early Christians practiced their religion. In their attempts to evangelize and spread the goods news of Christ, their leaders would say to the unconverted: "Look at us. To understand our religion, observe our marital fidelity; note our generosity to strangers; mark our treatment of those who persecute us; see how we use our money and notice how we treat women and slaves. Look at how we deal with issues of violence and injustice, poverty and want. See how we risk our own lives to take care of the sick." It was because of their holy actions (rather than their words), that non-believers came to see the power and presence of God in Christ, acting in their lives.
As people who belong to God and who are committed to the baptismal covenant, we are called to be icons of hope, agents of healing, messengers of good news, and a reflection of God's love. To really know God, one must (in some measure) be like God. To live with God, one must (in some measure) reflect God's own nature. That is why “moral conversion” and a life of holiness is part and parcel of the Christian path. So, if there is a stumbling block that is keeping you from being a vessel of righteousness and holiness, then cut it off. Do whatever it takes to be a healthy and whole person. Get the help you need; (whether it is a 12 step program, therapy, assistance from a friend or spouse, prayer, a different environment, God's grace, the process of forgiveness, or sitting in your chair). In this broken and changing world, it is vital that each of us take action so that we may partake in the transforming of this world by growing into the full stature of Christ.
"Almighty God, to you all hearts are open, all desires know, and from you no secrets are hid. Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, that we may perfectly love you and worthily magnify your holy name; through Christ our Lord. Amen [Collect for Purity; BCP 355]
| Updated 9/28/03 |
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