Mark 9:38-43,​45,​47-48 Do not be an obstacle

Stumbling Man, Sculpture by David K. Rubins (American, 1902–1985), Patinated bronze © David Kresz Rubins / Newfields, Indianapolis / Wikimedia

Gospel Reading

John said to Jesus, ‘Master, we saw a man who is not one of us casting out devils in your name; and because he was not one of us we tried to stop him.’ But Jesus said, ‘You must not stop him: no one who works a miracle in my name is likely to speak evil of me. Anyone who is not against us is for us. ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward. ‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out.’

Reflection on the sculpture

I think we all have occasionally found ourselves walking along, only to trip unexpectedly after catching our foot on a raised paving stone. Sometimes, the very paving stones designed to provide a smooth and safe path can become a tripping hazard when they’re not properly aligned with the ones around them. What was meant to aid our journey can, in fact, turn into an obstacle. That is maybe a good way to think of our faith, too, in the context of today's Gospel reading. We are not meant to be obstacles to others on the paths of faith that they walk. Jesus speaks of the one who offers a cup of cold water to his followers and the one who acts as an obstacle to bring them down: the one who supports and the one who hinders. Jesus himself experienced Peter, the leader of the Twelve, as an obstacle when Peter tried to dissuade him from following the path God had set, because it involved the cross. Jesus rebuked him, saying, “You are a stumbling block to me.” The Gospels suggest the disciples were stumbling blocks on more than one occasion. For example Mark tells us that when parents were bringing their children to Jesus for a blessing, the disciples sternly tried to block them. In today’s Gospel, again, we see the disciples attempting to stop someone from doing the Lord’s work simply because he wasn’t part of their group. Jesus rebukes them again, saying, “Do not stop him…Anyone who is not against us is for us.” Our sculpture titled Stumbling Man is an outdoor sculpture by American artist David K. Rubins (1902–1985) located on the grounds of the Indianapolis Museum of Art. It portrays a man who has just tripped over an obstacle and is in the midst of stumbling, struggling to regain his balance. The act of falling happens in an instant—within a mere second, one can be brought down. However, the process of recovering, stumbling, and rising again takes much longer, symbolising the slow and deliberate effort required to overcome setbacks. The sculpture is a life-size, cast bronze figure of a man positioned on his hands and knees. His head is bowed toward the ground, and his body appears tense, as though he is straining to prevent himself from collapsing further.

by Father Patrick van der Vorst