Today, following the example of the most modern TV producer, we are given to see Jesus conjuring images of unstoppable fire and worms into a place we have to avoid by all means: into 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 may attain when his life has not carried him where he wanted to go. It could be compared to the moment when, while driving our car, we take the wrong road by thinking it is the right one, and we end up in an unknown place, not knowing where we are and where we did not certainly want to go. We have to avoid it, no matter how, 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 have to have the strong desire to enter into the Kingdom of God even if we have to go without an essential part of ourselves.

It is possible that this Gospel may encourage us to mull over something we may have, very dear to us, but that prevents us from seeing God, —or even worse— that pushes us away from God.

The same Jesus leads us to look for the sin responsible for all our failings (hands, feet and eyes). Jesus speaks about anyone that could cause one of these little ones who believe in Him to stumble and sin (cf. Mk 9:42). “To cause someone to sin” is to turn someone away from God. We, therefore, appraise in every person his nearness to Jesus, the faith he may have.

Jesus teaches us we do not have to belong to the Twelve or to be one of his most intimate disciples to be able to stay beside Him: “For whoever is not against us is for us” (Mk 9:40). However, some might imply our salvation is a very simple thing. But it is not. Our salvation is an accomplished fact only if we are in Christ. It is a lesson of today's Gospel: many are those who, because of their deeds, are closer to the Kingdom of God than we may think. As St. Therese of Lisieux admitted: “The Lord cannot reward me for my deeds (…) Thus, I hope He will reward me for His.”