26th sunday B

You are being called to action!

"If your hand is your difficulty, cut it off! ... If your foot is your undoing, cut it off! ... If your eye is your downfall, pluck it out!"

Mark 9:43,45,47

A man was having a terrible time with dizzy spells. No one could tell him what to do about it. He went from doctor to doctor but they were all baffled by his predicament. They tried various medicines and treatments but nothing helped. Meanwhile the dizzy spells were affecting the man's health severely. He was losing weight. He was losing his strength and vitality. He was losing hope that he would ever recover. Finally, he decided to prepare for death which he believed would soon come. He had lost the will to live. He made arrangements with an undertaker. He bought a cemetery plot. He drew up a Last Will and Testament. Then he went to a men's shop to buy a set of new clothes to be buried in. He purchased a suit and a pair of shoes. Then he asked to see some size fifteen shirts. "But sir, your neck measures size sixteen and one half," the clerk said. "No, fifteen," the man insisted. "I always wear size fifteen." To which the clerk replied, "But if you wear size fifteen you'll get dizzy spells."

Jesus does not offer us life and then leave us with dizzy spells as we try to discover how to fit into it. He gives us specific instructions on how to measure up to it. He has told us what to do.

We are to trust and obey. By our trust and obedience we show that we are serious about accepting God's instructions on how to fit into and measure up to the New Life He is offering us.

One of C. S. Lewis' most popular works of fiction is entitled "Screwtape Letters." In it, a senior devil writes a series of letters to his nephew who is in training to be a junior devil. The letters contain advice on how to lead us mortals astray. For example, the senior devil tells his nephew that, for the devil's purposes, "lukewarm religion" is better than no religion at all.

Jesus has given us the same advice. The closing section of the Sermon on the Mount is a total repudiation by Jesus of lukewarm religion. In it, Jesus emphasizes not once, but four times, how essential it is for us to carry out the instructions He has given us in the rest of the Sermon. He contrasts the rich rewards that come to those who obey with the disastrous consequences that come to those who do not obey. On the one hand, there is the narrow, difficult road of holy obedience that leads to life. On the other hand, there is the broad, easy road on which lack of obedience and lack of discipline lead to destruction.

On the one hand, there is the healthy tree that does what a tree is supposed to do, namely, bear good, rich fruit. On the other hand, there is the sick tree, the broken tree that does not bear good fruit and is cut down, thrown into the fire.

On the one hand, the disciple who says, "Lord, Lord," and does what His Lord commands is welcomed into the fellowship. On the other hand, the disciple who says "Lord, Lord!" but does not do what His Lord commands is totally repudiated: "Depart from Me, you evildoer."

On the one hand, there is the wise man who built his house on the solid rock of obedience. When the storm of temptation, and the storm of pain and suffering, and the storm of death beat on it, the house stood firm because it was built on a solid foundation. On the other hand, there is the foolish man who built his house on the shifting sands of disobedience. When the storms came, the house came crashing down.

In today's Gospel, Jesus uses some very powerful imagery to make this point. He says it is "better to enter life maimed" than to enter the hell-fires unmaimed. Therefore, "If your hand is your difficulty," do something about it: "Cut it off!" And if your eye is your downfall, "pluck it out!" Jesus uses strong language to make it absolutely clear that entering into the life He offers us requires action on our part.

I dare say that everyone of us here today knows at least one point, one relationship, one habit, one need in the community, one specific place at least, where we are being clearly called to act.

The only proper response to the Word of Life which Jesus brings with Him from eternity is simply to do it!

"You have heard that it was said, 'You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy,' but I say to you, 'Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'" (Mt. 5:43-44). Let's do it!

"... if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift" (Mt. 5:23-24). Let's do it!

"... if any one strikes you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also ... and if any one forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles" (Mt. 5:39,41). Let's do it!

Love your enemies ... turn the other cheek ... go the extra mile It sounds risky! But risks must be taken ... because the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and live. Chained by his certitudes, he is a slave. He's forfeited his freedom. Only the person who risks is truly free. Try it and see what happens. Let's do it!