Two Wolves | February 23, 2017

February 23, 2017

“An old Cherokee chief was teaching his grandson about life...

’A fight is going on inside me,’ he said to the boy. 
’It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
 One is evil - he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, self-doubt, and ego.

The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith. ‘ The old chief said, ’This same fight is going on inside you - and inside every other person, too.’

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, 
’Which wolf will win?’

The old chief simply replied, ‘The one you feed.’” (Author Unknown)

Today’s gospel embraces the concept of this modern day parable and Jesus uses a very common teaching tool to make his point: hyperbole. Hyperbole is an overstatement or exaggeration used when a teacher really really really wants to emphasize their point and to make it clear: pay attention, this is going to be on the test! Jesus’ message today is that when we feed the sinful wolf within ourselves, he/she will thrive, and when we starve that same wolf, he/she will whither away. We should do whatever it takes to not feed sin, like cut off your hand or foot, or pluck out your eye, but don’t nourish that which causes us to alienate ourselves from God. We should feed the things that bring us closer such as prayer, kindness, balance, service to one another, and peace.

Jesus uses the image of salt yet again as an element that needs to maintain a balance or it will burn too hot and in extreme heat, salt loses its saltiness and becomes useless. This is another reference to sin. Salt should be used to keep a burning desire alive within us for peace, goodness, joy, gentleness, etc., but we can also misuse it, abuse it, and be reckless with it. Balance and temperance is the key. We must be intentional in maintaining both in our lives.

Jesus uses strong language today to say, “Take sin seriously,” it, like fire, is nothing to play around with. We have a choice to thrive in virtue or to allow vice to dominate our lives. Which one will I feed today? Which one will you feed today? Let’s help each other feed “whatever is true, noble and pure, lovely and admirable…whatever is right,” and it is well with my soul. Have a blessed day.

Reading 1 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 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6

R. (40:5a) Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Blessed the man who follows not
the counsel of the wicked
Nor walks in the way of sinners,
nor sits in the company of the insolent,
But delights in the law of the LORD
and meditates on his law day and night.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
He is like a tree
planted near running water,
That yields its fruit in due season,
and whose leaves never fade.
Whatever he does, prospers.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
Not so the wicked, not so;
they are like chaff which the wind drives away.
For the LORD watches over the way of the just,
but the way of the wicked vanishes.
R. Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.

Alleluia 1 THES 2:13

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
Receive the word of God, not as the word of men,
but as it truly is, the word of God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel MK 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 if 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."