Homily for May 24, 2018.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were hung round his neck and he were thrown into the sea.” Mark 9:42.
As a little child, I still remember being taken to church on Sundays and then looking at the Altar to wonder if the priest was actually a human being. When I saw the way priests and altar servers were dressed, I convinced myself that God sends Angels from heaven to perform. At this time, however, I still couldn’t even comprehend a single word said during mass. I just remember looking around in amazement, getting bored now and then and playing around or even outside the church.
When Jesus talked about leading the little ones astray, he was referring to those who are innocent, those who still have such pristine ideas of holiness, those whose faith has not been defiled by bad example and sinful behaviours. The first thing we must do to avoid becoming guilty of scandalizing anyone is to remind ourselves constantly that innocent minds and hearts still exist.
One way the devil lures us into scandal is by making us believe “everybody is bad, corrupt, immoral or compromised.” By making us believe in such a lie, we become relaxed in sin and without knowing it, we destroy the hearts of the innocents as well. Does this mean we should live in pretence? Not at all. The point is living in such a manner that is sincere and honest while making extra effort to ensure that no one gets a bad example or the impression of a bad example.
St. Paul would tell us: “’All things are lawful,’ but not all things are helpful. ‘All things are lawful,’ but not all things build up.” 1 Corinthians 10:23. It is not enough that you are doing the right thing, that you are not committing sin. You must ensure that even in doing what your conscience considers as good, your action is helpful to the growth and development of the innocent ones.
When Jesus talks about giving a little one a cup of water, I believe part of that cup of water is showing good examples; avoiding scandal and more importantly teaching the little one sound moral values.
How else can we avoid scandal without necessarily living a life of pretence? (Without being hypocrites; whitewashed tombs; double-personality; etc.) The solution is GET USED TO DOING THE RIGHT THING. When your “normal” way of life is one does not give room to sinfulness, you will do what is right regardless of who is watching or whether there is anyone watching at all. Like one used to wearing his/her seat belt upon entering a car, there will never be a time that he would be stopped by the Police for not wearing his seat-belt.
To get used to doing the right thing always, Jesus proposes that we cut off all links to sin in our lives. Jesus wants us to understand that we (our very bodies, our senses, our passions) are the principal sources of sin. Notice that Jesus did not say: “if the devil causes you sin, cut him off…” neither did Jesus say: “if your boyfriend or sugar mummy causes you to sin…” No. Jesus simple hit the nail on the head by identifying the true causes of sin; the hand, the foot, the eye or better put: the human being; the self.
The battle against sin is the battle against the self. No wonder Jesus said: “Do you not see that whatever goes into a man from outside cannot defile him since it enters, not his heart but his stomach, and so passes on?... What comes out of a man is what defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, fornication, theft, murder, adultery, coveting, wickedness, deceit, licentiousness, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.” Mark 7:18-22.
Nobody can lead me into sin. I am always the root cause and architect of my own sins and I alone have to battle within my very self to stop sinning. If it so happens that I am forced or compelled by some external power or by someone else, then it is no longer a sin because it lacks the consent of my will.
Finally, St. James admonishes us in very hard and straightforward manner in today’s first reading with regards giving others their due. The worst form of armed robbery is to get someone to work for you and then you refuse to pay him or her. If this is your idea of becoming rich, St. James says such wealth will rot away. Whatever we do to trample the rights and privileges of those who cannot even challenge us always comes with a reward; a boomerang effect.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me to always show good example by getting used to living above sin and soften my heart to care for those who work for me. Amen
Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith. It is well with you. God bless you. (Thursday of the 7th Week in Ordinary Time. Bible Study: James 5:1-6 and Mark 9:41-50).
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