Mark 9:42
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.
At the Easter vigil, we see people from all walks of life: the wealthy, the struggling, the healthy and those infirmed, all desiring to grow closer to Christ…to walk with our Lord in their life. These people are new to the faith and sometimes don't have the study and faith life to combat the wiles of the devil. But in the world we live in, there are many distractions and temptations. That's where we can get lost. The evil one wants us to become distracted. When our eyes turn away from our focus on God, we begin to focus on other things that are not pure. In fact, they can manifest themselves in ways that we soon discover can be a detriment to our physical, mental or even spiritual well-being. In Mark's gospel this weekend, he speaks of, "these little ones." Jesus says, "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." He is speaking not only of children, but of those weak in the faith, those vulnerable to attacks and temptations of the evil one. He's speaking of occasions when we might falter. We have to identify what those temptations and slip ups are, be conscious of them, and not slip again. This is especially important to parents, to teachers, even to our own church leaders. This might be viewing inappropriate websites or reading inappropriate material. It might be two people talking about someone else in a disparaging light. Jesus then uses analogies of these temptations: if your eye causes you to sin, cut it out; if your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off. He's encouraging us to be aware of our sins and to cut these sins out of our lives. It may even be a friend or person you admire who drags you down. This might mean ending a relationship with someone for the good of your soul. It takes a good examination of your conscious to be aware of these sins. It might mean being open to talking with a wise person, a spiritual director or a priest to share your heart and take their wisdom to heart. To open ones heart takes courage. Be courageous today and look at your life. See where you can cut the sin out of your life….you just might become that example of leading others to Jesus!
