23 May, 2024 | Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time

Jas 5:1-6

Gospel Mk 9:41-50

Jesus said to his disciples:

"Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink

because you belong to Christ,

amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.

"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.

If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.

It is better for you to enter into life maimed

than with two hands to go into Gehenna,

into the unquenchable fire.

And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.

It is better for you to enter into life crippled

than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.

And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.

Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye

than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna,

where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.

"Everyone will be salted with fire.

Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid,

with what will you restore its flavor?

Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another."

Reflections:

Many find joy in giving to the Church and its workers without strings attached to it. If we ask them why they are so generous towards the church and its workers, they would say that they just want to share what they have with those who labour in the vineyard of the Lord. But what they don’t realise is that, whatever they give they receive it back in various forms such as financial blessings, good health, peace in the family and so forth. There blessings flow like a stream and never runs out of water. This is the reward of those who are generous. Why not try to be generous to the Church and its workers? Why not be generous to anyone who needs your help and see for yourself the great blessings that will come your way. St Francis had said it is in giving that we receive. Surely the more you are generous with what you have the more you will be blessed by God.

Activity:

Give away some of your surplus goods to those who need it today.