September 29, 2024, Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B)
Today’s Readings: First Reading – Numbers 11 :25-29; Second Reading –
James 5: 1-6 and The Gospel – Mark 9:38-43.45.47-48.
Do people still commit sin? Is there something or somewhere called hell fire?
Some people in some parts of the world have tried to diminish the reality of sin by using psychological analogy to refute the existence and effect of sin in our world. Some theologians, philosophers as well as psychologist have argued that the theology of sin is an outdated theology and therefore not necessary.
What is the effect of this?
1. People no longer go to confession. It’s only a person who has committed sin that can go to confession. And if there is nothing like sin, it then means that there is no need to go to confession.
2. People can then indulge in any kind of immortal behaviour without seeing it as sinful since there is no existence of sin.
What about hell?
For some people, hell is a myth. For them, it’s a way of frightening people to obey their religion’s precepts.
But is Hell real? Hell is real, and going there for eternity is a real possibility.
Therefore, we must do whatever it takes to avoid that frightful possibility.
The problem of jealousy.
The first reading is about the institution of the 70 elders who were to assist Moses in ruling the people of Israel. These elders were endowed with the power and spirit of leadership and prophecy which God had already given to Moses.
Joshua, the servant of Moses became jealous because he saw two men among the seventy prophesying. He reported to Moses and asked him to stop them.
Lesson to learn.
Moses was delighted that the people were prophesying. We should be happy for other people’s gifts. We are not a monopoly of any gift. God gives each person gifts according to His wisdom and divine plan.
The Gospel has many beautiful lessons for us.
First is similar to what we have seen in the first reading. The apostles came upon a man who was not among them healing people in the name of Jesus and they stopped him. Jesus told them not to stop him.
Why did they stop him? The reason is jealousy. They believed that they were the only ones given the power and authority to heal. They didn’t want to share the relationship they have with Jesus with another person. However, Jesus taught them that he is there for everyone who is for him and not against anyone who uses his name to work miracles.
We must appreciate any good another person is doing.
Some people are threatened by the gifts and achievements of others and want to bring them down.
Second lesson: Jesus said that anyone who gives the little one even a cup of cold water would be rewarded. A cup of cold water means, “a little kindness” or kind deed. Not everyone has the opportunity to perform great deeds. But the chance to give a cold of water is possible several times a day.
Deeds don’t have to be big in order to be of help and comfort to the person for whom they are done.
The third lesson Jesus gives us today is about the sin of scandal, that’s causing others to sin. He gave a stern warning to anyone who would lead astray any of the little ones.
Today, a lot of crime and sins are committed against the children. These crimes and sins are committed in form of neglect, abuse, inactive and evil actions. Today, children are being sold as sex slaves. Some children are being trafficked to other countries for one kind of immortality or another.
Fourthly, Jesus talks about causes of sin in ourselves. He told us that the causes of sins should be dealt with ruthlessly, to the extent of cutting off our hands or foot, plucking out our eye etc.
What effort do we make in order to avoid sin? Would you even go so far as to cut off your hand or foot, and to pluck out your eye so as to avoid sin?
Here, Jesus is telling us that we must avoid the occasion of sin. Occasion of sin here comprises a person (bad friends), place (where sins are committed) and situation and materials (food, drinks).
We pray that we may appreciate the gifts of others, be a good example to others and take care of the little ones.
May Almighty God bless us and protect us from all evil through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Rev. Fr. Ambrose Onyeka Anene SDB is the Parish Priest of Church of the Archangels, Gaduwa Abuja.
