Bible & Responses

not always so direct — discernment is important

Yesterday’s gospel (27 September) offers us much food for thought, and I find it very relevant in our polarized world and church, where we speak of peace, respect and synodality. There are three significant teachings from Jesus — quite different, pertaining to different situations. And I put before you one case, which can be analysed with each of the three teachings.

Case 1 : I am a catholic priest and in charge of a parish in a big city in India. A few of the parishioners under the leadership of Mathew have left the church, as they were not happy with some decisions of the the priests, and some leaders of the local parish, and they formed a church of their own and they are inviting some of the parishioners to join them. This can be a common situation. In some cases, the priest or the leaders were wrong; in other cases, it is just a different style of doing the things. Mathew & team are doing things according to their own free will and it is okay and permissible. Should I do something to safeguard my parish, as I am the priest in charge?

At that time, John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us. 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.

1. Jesus is inviting the disciples to expand the definition of their circle, or the definition of the group of disciples/followers of Jesus. That outside person was not doing anything wrong. Or he is doing good, but in a way that is different from my style. Yes there are some commonalities, but also striking differences between disciples and the outside person. When we look into our own churches, communities, countries, there are people with different sensibilities and visions; do we atleast tolerate the good (but different) visions and ideas? Are we sensitive enough ?
2. When I apply this passage to the case mentioned in the beginning, probably I don’t do much against Mathew and team. I continue to be sensitive to them even though I don’t agree with them fully.

“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, (some translations would say, causing a scandal to the little ones) it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.

1. Jesus speaks of another level of sensitivity and insensitivity here. I am invited not to be scandalous to the simple and ordinary believers. Or an extreme sensitivity is expected from my part for the sake of such people. And Jesus seems to be extremely harsh to those who don’t show that sensitivity.
2. When I apply the passage to the case mentioned above, I am invited to do some proactive steps as the case of Mathew and team is causing scandal to some of the parishioners. Probably I am also invited to make appropriate changes in my parish governing style as that has created scandal for some people including Mathew.

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 if 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.’”

1. One youth from yesterday’s sharing group was saying why Jesus has to emphasize this point of cutting so many times. And it is surprising when this emphasizing is in the gospel of mark, who is known for his short and crispy writings. Jesus is definitely not inviting us to cut our body part (it is a hyperbole), but an invitation to purify ourselves and make appropriate changes.
2. If I read the above incident in the light of this passage, there might be an invitation to the priest as a shepherd of the community to take appropriate actions against Mathew and team and also to renew myself and our working style.

Interestingly three back to back gospel passages are helping us not to find an immediate and direct solution to the problem at hand. Some issues may have a clear cut answer from the Bible, but many others don’t have a clear cut answer and there the problem starts??? Or their the beauty starts — — it just shows that god respects human freedom and intelligence; and knows that we can find out the appropriate responses with appropriate efforts — for individual and collective matters.