Mark 9:38-50
38 “Teacher,” said John, “we saw someone driving out demons in your name and we told him to stop, because he was not one of us.”
39 “Do not stop him,” Jesus said. “For no one who does a miracle in my name can in the next moment say anything bad about me, 40 for whoever is not against us is for us. 41 Truly I tell you, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not lose their reward.
42 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea. 43 If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. 45 And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. 47 And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell, 48 where “‘the worms that eat them do not die, and the fire is not quenched.
49 Everyone will be salted with fire. 50 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”
Have salt within yourselves
Jesus continues to teach His disciples about their spontaneous desire to be great.
He respects this desire, which is part of our human nature.
He is not against the greatness they are seeking, but He teaches them HOW to achieve this in full harmony with God, their mission and their conscience.
Reading the Gospel in depth, we discover that Jesus is insisting on the substantial foundation of His mission. He uses well known elements to convey the message to His first and present disciples. Salt, Fire and Life are repeated throughout His teaching. We, too, need to concentrate again and again on these three topics in order to grow in Jesus' faith and greatness.
In the past, salt was used as currency. Workers were paid their salary with salt. Some linguistic experts think that the word salt is the root of the word salary.
Salt was also known as:
1) A necessary preservative for food;
2) An element offering good taste to food; and
3) A kind of medication to prevent infections and heal wounds.
Fire was used to form, shape and decorate melted iron and other metals to be used as pots and household items, or farming and war tools. Old tools were remelted and reshaped by fire.
You want to be great. You are seeking a good goal. This is how Jesus wants us to be like salt with its specific qualities. Similarly, fire is able to perform, remelt and reshape.
These qualities should be permanently treasured within our being and used for good without seeking personal interests. These elements give what they have for free. This is how Jesus considers greatness whose evidence is shown by its fruits, "Living in Peace with each other."
Today, Jesus will sit down again and invite a child to remind us that greatness results from humility and relying on God's trust and blessings. Try to be great according to Jesus' model and teachings.
Let us pray for those who lead the Church and nations to live their vast responsibilities in accordance with this type of greatness.