"Merciful God, we seek out of your grace and goodness the power to be delivered from those things that come between us and You. And deliver us from those things that come between our neighbor and ourselves. Enable us, O God, to direct our lives toward those things that You have commissioned us to do. Through Your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, within our world today. Amen.
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Mark 9:38-50
 38John said to him, "Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us." 39But Jesus said, "Do not stop him; for no one who does a deed of power in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. 40Whoever is not against us is for us. 41For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you bear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.
42"If any of you put a stumbling block before one of these little ones who believe in me, it would be better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea. 43If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life maimed than to have two hands and to go to hell, to the unquenchable fire. 45And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life lame than to have two feet and to be thrown into hell. 47And if your eye causes you to stumble, tear it out; it is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and to be thrown into hell, 48where their worm never dies, and the fire is never quenched. 49"For everyone will be salted with fire. 50Salt is good; but if salt has lost its saltiness, how can you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and be at peace with one another."
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Reflection
We live in a world that loves to draw lines and separate people. We seek always to be better than the next guy, or to be part of something that makes us better than the other group. Our country has become politically polarized, which makes it more and more difficult for congress to pass any kind of legislation because neither party wants to be associated with the other party or anything for which it stands. Racism is alive and well and rears its ugly head with segregation and stereotypes putting people in categories. "They're not like us, so they can't be any good." And we separate ourselves from one another. Sin is defined as: separation from God, that which separates us from God and from each other. Jesus came to remove the barriers that separate, to remove death and all that separates us from life.
In today's gospel reading Jesus tells the disciples not to stop folks who act in Jesus name, just because they aren't part of the elite group of disciples. Jesus warns against putting a stumbling block in front of those who believe in him, suggesting that "it would better for you if a great millstone were hung around your neck and you were thrown into the sea."
The following story about Mahatma Gandhi is from a booklet by Rev. Fredrick L. Pattison. I've seen the same story in other places:
Mahatma Gandhi, the renowned leader of the people of India, in seeking to overthrow British colonial rule of his native land, was an avid reader. Although a Hindu, in his quest for freedom, he read the four Christian Gospels. He wanted to know more about Jesus of Nazareth. In his reading of the Gospels, Gandhi was impressed with this man whom Christians worship and follow. Where could he find out more about this Jesus whom Christians refer to as "the Christ - the Messiah?"
One Sunday morning Gandhi decided that he would visit one of the Christian churches in Calcutta. Upon seeking entrance to the church sanctuary, he was stopped at the door by the ushers. The ushers told him that he was not welcome, nor would he be permitted to attend this particular church as it was for 'high caste' Indians and 'whites' only. He was neither 'high caste', nor was he British. Because of the rejection by this church, 'the Mahatma' turned his back on Christianity. With this act, Gandhi rejected the Christian faith, never again to consider the claims of Christ! He was 'turned-off' by the sin of segregation that was practiced by the church. Gandhi later declared, "I'd be a Christian if it were not for the Christians!"
"I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ" ~ Mahatma Gandhi
Jesus came for everyone. He died for everyone. He sends us to proclaim the good news of forgiveness, love, life to everyone. What message do we proclaim in our churches and with our actions?
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