A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Mark.

John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone using your name to expel demons, and we tried to stop it since this person was not part of our company.”  Jesus said in reply, “Do not try to stop it.  No one who performs a miracle using my name can speak ill of me soon thereafter! Anyone who is not against us is with us.  Anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to the Messiah will certainly not go without a reward.

But if anyone makes one of these little ones stumble who believe in me, it would be better for that person to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone around the neck.  ‘If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.  It would be better to enter life crippled than to have hands and go into Gehenna, where the fire never goes out.  If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off.  It is better to enter life crippled than to have two feet and be thrown into Gehenna.  And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.  It would be better to enter the kindom of God with one eye than to have two eyes and be end up in Gehenna, where the worm never dies and the fire never goes out.’ ”

The Good News as spoken through Mark.