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Manila Bulletin devider Opinion devider It is better for you

It is better for you

Published Feb 26, 2025 04:03 pm

REFLECTIONS TODAY

Gird your loins

While we hear of people who try to kill themselves and even succeed in doing so for one reason or another, there are others who cling to dear life in spite of severe physical impairments that deprive them of a “meaningful” life. 

For them, it is better to go through life blind, maimed, or without the use of some senses than not to be alive at all. 

Knowing that life is the greatest gift of all, a gift from God, and so is not in our power to take away, we respect life in all its manifestations.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the unsurpassable blessing of life in God. He is saying that God and our life in God’s Kingdom are more important than the most important parts of our body. 

Given the richness of life offered in the Kingdom of God, it is better to be without a hand, a foot, or an eye, than to lose the opportunity of entering it. 

To have both hands, eyes, and feet, but to have used them to lead one to sin and death, and to suffer the unquenchable fire, is unthinkable. Jesus is not saying that one has to literally maim oneself. 

However, his Semitic hyperbolic expression warns against the danger of losing our very life or our very soul. If we lose that, we lose everything at the end.

First Reading • Sir 5:1-8 

Rely not on your wealth; say not: “I have the power.” Rely not on your strength in following the desires of your heart. Say not: 

“Who can prevail against me?” or, “Who will subdue me for my deeds?” for God will surely exact the punishment.

Say not: “I have sinned, yet what has befallen me?” for the Most High bides his time. 

Of forgiveness be not overconfident, adding sin upon sin. Say not: “Great is his mercy; my many sins he will forgive.” 

For mercy and anger alike are with him; upon the wicked alights his wrath. 

Delay not your conversion to the Lord, put it not off from day to day. For suddenly his wrath flames forth; at the time of vengeance you will be destroyed. Rely not upon deceitful wealth, for it will be no help on the day of wrath. 

 

Responsorial Psalm • Ps 1

“Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.” 

 

Gospel • Mark 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 it 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.”

 

Source: “365 Days with the Lord 2025,” St. Paul’s, 7708 St. Paul Rd., SAV, Makati City (Phils.); Tel.: 632-895-9701; E-mail: [email protected]; Website: http://www.stpauls.ph.

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