If your hand causes you to sin

23 MAY (Mk 9,41-50)

In the Old Testament the most beautiful story on the scandal is certainly that which we find in the Second Book of Maccabees. It is an episode that reveals the nobility of the heart, the richness of the spirit, the true desire of good for the fragile world of youth.

Eleazar, one of the foremost scribes, a man of advanced age and noble appearance, was being forced to open his mouth to eat pork. But preferring a glorious death to a life of defilement, he spat out the meat, and went forward of his own accord to the instrument of torture, as men ought to do who have the courage to reject the food which it is unlawful to taste even for love of life. Those in charge of that unlawful ritual meal took the man aside privately, because of their long acquaintance with him, and urged him to bring meat of his own providing, such as he could legitimately eat, and to pretend to be eating some of the meat of the sacrifice prescribed by the king; in this way he would escape the death penalty, and be treated kindly because of their old friendship with him. But he made up his mind in a noble manner, worthy of his years, the dignity of his advanced age, the merited distinction of his gray hair, and of the admirable life he had lived from childhood; and so he declared that above all he would be loyal to the holy laws given by God. He told them to send him at once to the abode of the dead, explaining: “At our age it would be unbecoming to make such a pretense; many young men would think the ninety-year-old Eleazar had gone over to an alien religion. Should I thus dissimulate for the sake of a brief moment of life, they would be led astray by me, while I would bring shame and dishonor on my old age. Even if, for the time being, I avoid the punishment of men, I shall never, whether alive or dead, escape the hands of the Almighty. Therefore, by manfully giving up my life now, I will prove myself worthy of my old age, and I will leave to the young a noble example of how to die willingly and generously for the revered and holy laws.” He spoke thus, and went immediately to the instrument of torture. Those who shortly before had been kindly disposed, now became hostile toward him because what he had said seemed to them utter madness. When he was about to die under the blows, he groaned and said: “The Lord in his holy knowledge knows full well that, although I could have escaped death, I am not only enduring terrible pain in my body from this scourging, but also suffering it with joy in my soul because of my devotion to him.” This is how he died, leaving in his death a model of courage and an unforgettable example of virtue not only for the young but for the whole nation. (2Mac 6,18-31).

The scandal is the transgression of a public commandment of the Lord before frail persons, weak in the faith and also in front of people who do not live our very faith. Who lives by a fragile faith is strongly tempted to sin by the scandal. On the contrary, who does not have our same faith, is driven away by the scandal from believing in Jesus Christ. The Lord is blamed because of our public sins. Many today do not come to the Catholic faith due to the scandals of its children. Between a Catholic and a non-Catholic no difference is noticed in terms of everyday life.

Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. “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. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where ‘their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.’ “Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

The Christian is the salt of the earth. He is the light of the world. Every scandal committed by him makes him tasteless before the whole world. Only Jesus Christ might give him his flavour back. There are no religions in the world that can make real salt a disciple of Jesus who has become non salt. Whoever forsakes Christ Jesus will be insipid for eternity. In the world there is no other source of truth and divine holiness.

Virgin Mary, Mother of the Redemption, Angels and Saints make us true salt forever.