Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time - Cycle B

Nm 11:25-29
Jas 5:1-6
Mk 9:38-43, 45, 47-48

The Word of God calls us to have a “non-territorial” attitude. Today’s First Reading and Gospel passage both illustrate that if the Lord has given us a mission, we should rejoice when we find others doing the same mission, rather than having a “turf war” with them. This applies to ministries throughout the Body of Christ, and in reference to the pro-life mission. No single person or group has a monopoly on the defense and promotion of life. These are everyone's task and responsibility.

In regard to that Pro-life mission, furthermore, the second part of today’s Gospel passage represents one of the rationales by which we call people to great sacrifice to protect and preserve life, whether of the unborn, the terminally ill and disabled, or anyone else. To directly take the life of another innocent person is to commit the kind of offense against God that the Lord commands us to avoid at all costs. In the case of abortion, it may not be one’s hand or eye that leads to sin, but rather one’s friends or other relationships. What young, scared, pregnant mothers fear they will lose by choosing life is usually far less than they imagine. But whatever the cost, when faced with making a sacrifice or sacrificing another, the Lord clearly tells us the right road.