Mark 9,38-43, 45, 47-48.
This is the only occasion in Mark’s gospel where John appears alone. In Luke we meet a similar lack of hospitality from him and his brother when they suggest that Jesus call down fire on a Samaritan town, inhospitable to Jesus (Lk 9,54-55).
Here we see a man who casts out demons in name of Jesus being stopped by the disciples because he was not one of them. Jesus points out that if he is working miracles in his name, he is not to be stopped since he is an ally and not an adversary. The disciples are guilty of a very common human failing, the tendency to exclude “outsiders”, and to claim an exclusive monopoly and control on things, even God’s gifts.
An outsider who does the smallest kindness (gives a cup of water) to a disciple because he is associated with Jesus will be rewarded for such kindness. This saying would have relevance for the young struggling Christian community for which Mark was writing. Reward is not something we earn or have a right to, but the free gift of God’s generosity.
The little ones here are the least significant members of the community, the little people. Anyone who causes one of these little ones to weaken or lose their faith (scandalise, or cause to them stumble), were better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round their necks. Jesus is referring to a heavier mill stone which a donkey would pull rather than the lighter millstone which women worked by hand at the mill. (Mt 24,41).
The figures of cutting off one’s hand or foot or gouging out one’s eye do not encourage self-mutilation but are deliberately vivid reminders that the strongest possible action must be taken to avoid losing a place in God’s kingdom and ending up in hell (Gehenna). Gehenna, a smouldering tip in the valley of Hinnon, in southern Jerusalem, appears in the Old Testament prophets as a place of child sacrifice (Jer 7,31; 19,5f;), and where the wicked will burn in an unquenchable fire (Is. 66,24). The message is simple: a place in God’s kingdom is worth any effort or sacrifice. Hell is a place to avoid at all costs.
St John Henry Newman’s summarised two choices regarding the after- life in his famous wager: “Either God exists, and eternity awaits us, or God does not exist, and this is the only life we will ever know.” For him the first option was the safer bet.
Today’s reading shows that Jesus’ ideas of goodness are wider than John’s narrow insularism. There is a lesson there for individuals, communities and institutions. All goodness is on the side of Christ and Christ is always on the side of goodness wherever it is found and from whatever source. As Christians we should never impose our limits or our notions on God and his ways.
All goodness is rewarded by Jesus, even as small a thing such as giving someone a cup of water. In this story the person casting out devils was not one of the twelve – an outsider of their group, showing that the healing power of God is not confined to the close followers of Jesus. Individuals not part of the group/church/ community or not clergy or religious may also be gifted by God and an agent of his love and goodness.
Jesus love for goodness is expressed also in his abhorrence of evil, and his judgement on those who mislead others from the truth, especially the weak and vulnerable.
Fr Geoff O’Grady