Millstone necklaces

Mark 9:42-50

          When I was rather young kid there was a slightly older boy in our neighborhood that was viewed as a trouble maker. He instigated a whole array of things to do that I won't go into simply because I am still a bit ashamed. Nothing illegal mind you, well maybe it was - but we were kids. Some might argue juvenile delinquents. In any event "Patrick" goaded several of us on to doing things we knew we ought not be doing. I was caught on a least one occasion and that was probably a good thing for me.  When we think of leading 'little ones astray', this is more likely what many of us think of. Evil temptation and succumbing to the temptation that some evil person deliberately places in our face. 

          If life was only that simple. We love to view things as black and white, good and evil. Countless movies are based on it. Many religions rely on it. We like to see things that way. It seems to make things easier.

          The fact is, many people are lead astray by well intentioned folks who convince others that they "know the truth". Lives can be ruined.  Sometimes people who learn something or have an epiphany about something in life and maintain that knowledge as their golden rule as if it's the pinnacle of learning or knowledge. They seem willing to lead everyone else their way.  This does not show any respect for others journey. We must discover many things on our own. Of course guided advice should always be handed out as needed. We certainly would not let our children touch a hot stove so they learn the hard way not to touch.  But life is so complex and our journeys are so varied, we really need to respect where each and every one of us are without meting out judgements and pronouncements about what is absolutely right or absolutely wrong.

               Where am I going with this? Leading 'little one's astray' is such a cute term that we fail to see sometimes that life is not black and white. The greatest rule we have is to love one another. If any situation does not have love added into the equation, it is faulty. We risk leading others astray.

              So when you are told that living together is a "mortal sin", it may not reflect the commitment and love that lives in the heart of those people. They may not have a legal or formal religious sanction but it may be valid and true none the less. I can think of a exhaustive and sadly boring array of issues that the many Churches seem free to lecture on without respect for individuals and without emphasis on a living love that is a hallmark of our Creator and Jesus Christ. Knowledge is spouted and quoted as if it is divinely given without human error. This is dangerous and as I said can ruin lives and actually can lead any child or adult astray.

         Before we start quoting or spouting truths, rules or lies, we should think twice - at least.  We should not feel cock sure in life like we have all the answers lest we lead astray some other chap on their own journey. Who knows (except God) you may be wrong! The Church could be wrong, imagine that!

         Be more concerned with your own journey, share, but respect each other. Millstone necklaces are tough to bear. 

“If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.  If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life maimed than with two hands to go into hell, where the fire never goes out. And if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off. It is better for you to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye causes you to stumble, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell,  where

“‘the worms that eat them do not die,
    and the fire is not quenched.’

Everyone will be salted with fire.

“Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can you make it salty again? Have salt among yourselves, and be at peace with each other.”