Today, in the style of the most modern TV director, we see Jesus conjuring images of unstoppable fire and worms into a place we have to avoid by all means: hell, “where 'their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.'” (Mk 9:48). It is a vivid description of the state a person might find themselves in when their life has not taken them where they wanted to go. It could be compared to the moment when, while driving, we take the wrong road, thinking we're headed in the right direction, only to end up in an unknown place, not knowing where we are or where we didn’t want to go. We must avoid this at all costs, even if we have to get rid of our hands (cf. Mk 9:43), feet (cf. Mk 9:45), eyes (cf. Mk 9:47). We must desire to enter into life or into the Kingdom of God, even if it’s without an essential part of ourselves.

This Gospel likely invites us to reflect and discover what is preventing us from going toward God, no matter how much it seems to belong to us, —or even worse, what is driving us away from Him.

Jesus Himself guides us to identify the sin into which our own things (hands, feet, and eyes) lead us. Jesus speaks of those who cause the little ones who believe in Him to stumble (cf. Mk 9:42). To “cause someone to sin” means to lead someone away from the Lord. Therefore, let us value in each person their closeness to Jesus and the faith they have.

Jesus teaches us that it is not necessary to be one of the Twelve or one of the closest disciples to be with Him: “For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:40). We can understand from this that Jesus saves all. This is a lesson from today's Gospel: there are many who are closer to the Kingdom of God than we think, because they perform miracles in the name of Jesus. As St. Therese of Lisieux confessed, “The Lord will not be able to repay me according to my works. Very well, then, I trust that He will repay me according to His works.”