Water, stumbling blocks, scandal and salt. Mark includes these apparently unrelated things in one short passage: (cf. Mk 9:41-50). to create a "wow" effect. Jesus speaks strongly about removing stumbling blocks and in typically Hebrew hyperbolic style, proposes the cutting off of hands and the plucking out of eyes, if they become the occasion of sin, and of scandalizing the young. He lauds the sharing or a cup of water, which also implies that if we neglect to offer water or some of life's basics to those in need, we scandalize the young by such acts of selfishness. We are then the salt that has lost its saltiness and which should be discarded.
With Ash Wednesday fast approaching (next Wednesday, if you haven't noticed), it's time to face the stumbling blocks which we need to name, and discard, lest we scandalize others or live a Christian life that is as flat as an unsalted cracker.
Bro. Rene
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