Jesus destroys the image of social life the Apostles kept before the event presented in today’s passage. That old image may be familiar to the one we keep in our minds when we try to limit salvation to a chosen group of people. Jesus Himself is very inclusive. In other Gospels passages, He speaks to those considered sinners in the Palestinian milieu and openly criticises Pharisees who were Jewish religious authority. We can see that Jesus is welcoming to the latter group, even though they are not interested in accepting the Good News.
Today, we hear about two radically distinct situations – firstly, someone can follow Christ from the outside of the believer’s community. Secondly, Jesus gives an example of those who “bring down one of those little ones”. Indeed, Christianity is not about membership, even though it is essential to be baptised and be actively a part of the Church if the truth has been revealed to us. We have to recognise that some very decent people are not part of the Catholic community, and others who are Catholic, but as the Church we can be ashamed of their behaviour. Examples of those in the second group are all involved in the worldwide sexual scandals. We feel ashamed of their misbehaviour and know that it should never happen again.
Christianity is not an exclusive group of those who go straight to Heaven. The Church gives us the means to achieve salvation, but a personal decision and life according to God’s plan is necessary. Salvation cannot be achieved by merely being a Christian or exercising an office in the Church. One has to be faithful to the Gospel in his/her actions. Am I faithful to my mission as a Christian, a Catholic, a wife or husband? An employer or an employee? Do I follow my life’s vocation in a way I believe, i.e. as Jesus teaches in the Gospel? Or do I think I can just fulfil my Christian “duties” of Sunday Mass and accept an evil I commit against others? Jesus does not literally suggest harming ourselves but rather uproot the evil we commit in its origin, not projecting any plan of returning the past bad behaviour in the future. The Lord invites us to make radical decisions. He also gives us His grace in order to enable us to be converted. Let us pray for this grace and for strength to overcome our sinfulness and follow Him. Let us never live with a false consideration that membership in the Church automatically makes us saved. It makes us even more responsible, according to Jesus’ words in another passage: “From everyone to whom much has been given, much will be required; and from the one to whom much has been entrusted, even more will be demanded.” (Luke 12:48b)
Łukasz Gołąb – Seminary of the Good Shepherd, Sydney, Australia
Fot. Josh Applegate/Unsplash.com