On first reading, this Gospel can sound really appealing.  I’m not sure if it’s the Italian in me, having experienced my share of being bullied in life or just getting aggravated when it seems some really bad people are able to coast along with no repercussions for their evil actions.  There’s something satisfying hearing Jesus say, “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea.”  There’s this impulse to start putting together a list for Jesus with approximate neck sizes. But then it struck me: What if my name happens to be on someone else’s list?  Well, that was a fun 10 seconds.

Thanks so much for stopping by to read this homily for the 26th SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME, September 29, 2024.  I appreciate your sharing this on your social media posts and your feedback and comments…  I’m also grateful for all those who’ve asked for the audio version and share them as well at SOUNDCLOUD click HERE or from ITUNES as a podcast HERE.  May the Lord be glorified in your reading and sharing- Father Jim

It’s difficult to avoid the trap of searching for someone to blame for everything that’s wrong in our world, nation, families, and even our Church.  We often feel, understandably, stressed and distressed by unfair and unjust things.  This can lead to a mentality of “us vs them,” where we may feel that we’re on team Jesus (we’re attending Mass on Sunday, unlike those heathens who aren’t) as opposed to all those doing all those things that are messing up everything.  Leading us to keep waiting for Jesus to come back and make everything right for us.

But what if it is me?  What if in my self-righteousness of celebrating that I’m at Mass on Sunday when all those others aren’t, I missed something that I’ve done or failed to do that has caused someone to question their belief in God, to turn away from the Church?  All of a sudden I don’t like this Gospel passage very much.  In reaction to that, we can become scrupulous accountants trying to justify good actions over evil acts and obsessing that we’re in the black (more good than evil).  It’s one of those complexities of appreciating the realities of God’s mercy and His Justice – knowing that sins deserve punishment, yet knowing His longing to forgive those who come with repentant, contrite hearts.

This is why it’s good for us to be unsettled and reflective with these scriptures and recall the totality of God’s word.  We have to remember that God is not interested in a “us” vs “them” competition.  Whenever we find those thoughts or feelings entering, we must be on our guard and remember that division comes from the devil.  And the most significant division the devil wants to create is between God and each and every single one of us, those God has created in His image and likeness.

It can be confusing at times.  And that’s not something new either… we have an example from over 3,000 years ago in the first reading from the book of Numbers.  This is an Old Testament book that we rarely hear at Sunday Mass, and it captures this dramatic moment.  In answer to Moses’ prayers after being overwhelmed and feeling burdened with all his duties, the responsibilities of leading God’s Chosen people were being spread to all these elders.  When two of the guys, Eldad and Medad, happen not to be there like the rest of the group that had been chosen, (why, where could they have been?  Did they snooze through their alarm?  Who knows…) Moses’ younger assistant, Joshua, gets defensive.  He recognizes this special calling and blessing of sharing God’s gifts – which is a good thing to see, be protective of, to see that there’s a reverence and awe due to this calling.   But Joshua’s very broken, human side comes out when he says, “Moses – stop them…” In that objection, Joshua reveals that he’s lost sight of the fact that it’s not about Moses – it’s not Moses’ power and authority there – it’s God’s.  Moses calls Joshua out, saying, “Are you jealous for my sake?”  Joshua’s care and affection for Moses were manipulated by the devil at that moment, which caused distress for himself and could have resulted in a lot worse.   Maybe caused gossip and envy among the elders, who might’ve started agreeing with Joshua asking “Yeah, Where were Eldad and Medad – how come they were able to be blessed when they weren’t here?” or even making Moses lose sight of how God had answered his prayers if he allowed Joshua’s objections to take root and his ego to blind him, convincing him that he was being dissed in some way.

Similarly, in the Gospel, the apostles are distracted by someone else casting out demons in Jesus’ name that they aren’t familiar with.  They, too, are losing sight that the enemy is the devil.  Which is what Jesus is trying to get into their hearts and minds.  The apostle’s ability to cast out demons isn’t because they’re special, that they’ve received secret knowledge or have mastered the formula – but is solely based on their relationship to Jesus and how they are yielding to Him in their lives.  The moment they see these others casting out demons in Jesus’ name, they allow their suspicions and doubts to blind them to that fact.  This is why Jesus takes this moment to correct them.  Reminding them whenever these unhelpful observations, doubts, and confusions creep, not to get lost in that but take that energy to refocus on their relationship with Jesus.

Which is something that we all have to be on guard with.  Unfortunately, in our day and age, it’s rare that we, as Catholic Christians, are distracted by the successes of other people of faith.  It’s often negative stories that distract and diminish our convictions.  Stories that want us to start measuring neck sizes for millstones.  Stories like the clergy sex abuse scandals over the last decades.  I’ve struggled with anger and disillusionment that some brother priests, even the Archbishop who ordained me, caused immense harm.  The effects still inhibit the Church’s work to effectively proclaim the Gospel and minister to God’s people.

Will these things cause me to be tempted to let my anger grow into disillusionment and lead me to abandon my calling as a priest?  Will they allow bitterness to take root, causing me to distrust everyone in leadership and detach and isolate from the people of God?  Will they allow self-righteousness to make me feel superior?

Those temptations can be hard to resist and are even considered justifiable.  Yet Jesus invites a different response.   We hear a significant shift from talking about millstones for others to more profound repentance, inner conversion, and personal responsibility.  Reminding us to focus on the only thing we have ultimate control over – what causes us to sin?    Notice he doesn’t say to cut off the hands or feet or pluck out the eyes of all those who have failed.   He directs it to us.  Jesus says If your hand, If your foot, If your eye causes you to sin…  Jesus wants us to focus on our evil intentions, our hateful thoughts, and our disordered actions.  And he’s using these dramatic examples to catch his listener’s attention.  He’s not literally advocating we mutilate ourselves to avoid sin.  In reality, when we think about it, the hand, the foot, and the eye can’t cause us to sin.

Sin is a decision we make in our hearts – to misuse or get our priorities out of wack on things.  And we see that happens every time we fall into one of the 7 deadly sins:

-Pride: When We choose selfishness over selflessness

-Envy: when I’m filled with sorrow that someone is doing well rather than appreciating the good that God has done for them (and me)

-Anger: When I give into that unreasonable desire for vengeance rather than actively interrupt that feeling and try to mend a relationship

-Sloth: When I don’t even try to go deeper in my relationship with God, I just coast along rather than seeing myself as being made, created, and called to a divinely charged purpose.

-Greed: When I pursue riches rather than looking to give generously

-Gluttony: When I overindulge in food or drink instead of self discipline

-Lust: When I treat another person simply as a means for my physical pleasure instead of recognizing that each and every one of us is created in the image of God and by that, has dignity.

Our life in faith is profoundly personal but it is also communal.  It’s tempting to focus on the failings of others or to fall into the  “us versus them” mentality.  Yet, Jesus calls us to look inward and examine our hearts and actions.  In a world filled with distractions and disappointments, especially in the face of pain caused by those within our Church, we mustn’t let anger or resentment take root in our hearts.  Instead, let’s redirect that energy toward our relationship with Christ, asking ourselves how to be agents of His love and mercy.

C.S. Lewis, who’s considered one of the greatest Christian writers of the modern era, put it like this in one of his works… He said: “When a man is getting better he understands more and more clearly the evil that is still left in him.  When a man is getting worse he understands his own badness less and less.  A moderately bad man knows he is not very good: a thoroughly bad man thinks he is all right.  This is common sense, really.  You understand sleep when you are awake, not while you are sleeping.  You can see mistakes in arithmetic when your mind is working properly: while you are making them you cannot see them.  You can understand the nature of drunkenness when you are sober, not when you are drunk.  Good people know about both good and evil: bad people do not know about either.”

In our pursuit of holiness, it’s essential to remember Lewis’ point.  We become more aware of our own shortcomings not to wallow in guilt, but to open ourselves to transformation.  It’s about choosing to allow Christ to work within us and striving to become who we receive in the Eucharist.  Our actions matter deeply.  Each word we speak, each choice we make, has the power to either draw someone closer to God or create a stumbling block.  Let us be mindful of the impact of our actions and actively seek to reflect the love and grace of Christ in all that we do.