Water, the Stumbling Block and Salt: Lessons in True Discipleship
February 27, 2025 - Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Mark 9:41-50
In today’s Gospel, Mark presents three sayings of Jesus, each carrying a profound message about the cost and responsibility of discipleship. These sayings touch on generosity, the consequences of leading others astray, and the importance of remaining faithful to Christ.
The first saying challenges us to think about simple acts of generosity. Offering a cup of water, especially in the arid land of Palestine where water was scarce, was no small gesture. To offer such hospitality to someone "bearing Christ's name," as Mark 9:41 highlights, broke the sectarian attitudes held by the disciples (Mark 9:38). This generosity, even from those outside the Christian faith, mirrors Jesus’ radical inclusivity, such as in His encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:6-7). Despite the Jewish-Samaritan divide, Jesus asked for the cup of water and, in return, offered salvation to the woman and others she brought to Him (John 4:29, 42). Acts of kindness, even small ones, transcend division and can become a powerful witness to Christ’s love.
The second saying warns against causing others to stumble in their faith. The word "to offend" (Mark 9:42-43) in this context means to place a stumbling block before someone. The Apostle James offers a striking example of how injustice can lead others astray, like withholding wages from workers (James 5:4). Just as the prosperity of the wicked nearly caused the psalmist to stumble (Psalm 73:2), so too can our actions, especially injustices, negatively affect the faith of others. Jesus calls us to realize that every action has eternal consequences.
The valley of Hinnom (Gehenna) is located in Jerusalem. In the Bible, it was associated with children offered as sacrifices to Baal. Later on, it was turned into a rubbish dump that kept burning day and night. In Jewish and Christian traditions, it became a symbol of punishment (Mark 9:47-48).
The third saying uses the image of salt. Salt, as both a purifier and a preservative, reminds us of our role as disciples in the world. In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus declares that we are the "salt of the earth," challenging us to preserve the goodness and integrity of God’s kingdom in a world that often pulls us in opposing directions. This requires sacrifice—just as salt purifies, we are called to purify our own hearts and remain faithful, even when the world’s distractions tempt us away from Christ. In doing so, we remain faithful to our calling and offer a testimony to the world of God’s love and truth.
Together, these sayings remind us of the powerful and sometimes costly nature of discipleship. Jesus calls us not only to follow Him but to live in a way that reflects His love and mercy to others. Whether through a simple act of generosity, a commitment to justice, or a faithful witness in a world that tests our loyalty, we are called to be both the salt and the light of the world.