“A cup of water given in my name …”
A Gospel Enquiry
Introduction
We can approach the Gospel of Mark as a literary work, which has a respected place in world literature. As such, our focus might be on the historical and cultural contexts of the Gospel, or on the literary forms used to shape the text.
Or we can approach the Gospel as an expression of the faith of one of the first Christian communities. As such, each part of the Gospel is viewed in the context of the whole Gospel: What comes before the part under consideration? What follows it? What does the part contribute to the message of the whole Gospel?
The Gospel of Mark was written about thirty years after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Scripture scholars have concluded that the Gospel was intended for a Gentile Christian community. It was written in Greek
The oral tradition, out of which the written Gospel came, relied on memories of what was shared with Christians by those who encountered Jesus as he carried out his mission.
Over time, some memories became detached from their source events, particularly some sayings of Jesus. This seems to be the situation we find with this Gospel reading. Given that the Gospel Enquiry is intended to be a faith experience, then we accept the challenge of interpreting what we read in a way that is consistent with the writer’s purpose. And there is no better place to look than the very beginning of the Gospel: “This is the Good News about Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).
The Gospel
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another’ (Mark 9:41-50).
The Enquiry
See
Place these sayings of Jesus in their context. Consider his movements in Chapter 9 and Chapter 10 of the Gospel. Make a list of the parts of the two chapters.
What is sin? Why would a cup of cold water given in Jesus’ name be the opposite of sin? What would you call the opposite of sin? Does Jesus mean that body parts cause people to sin?
“It is better for you if….“ Why does Jesus describe extreme ways of getting into Heaven? What is he saying about the consequences of sin?
Judge
What do you think about Jesus’ advice about avoiding sin? Is he being too extreme?
Ideally, how should we treat others? And what about those who perpetrate unjust deeds?
What part does your faith play in the way you relate with others and interact with the world? How is your faith challenged by what you have read in this Gospel?
Act
What needs to change in the world so that people are helped to choose good and to avoid evil?
What action can you carry out this week that will contribute to the change you would like to make?
Who can you involve in your action, when, how often and how?
Image source: Center for Advanced Judaic Studies (Creator): Names Written in Heaven, Greater Grace World Outreach Church, PDM 1.0