Hy-per-bo-le (noun) “exaggerated statements or claims not meant to be taken literally.” More detail is given in the words from the Thesaurus.com including: amplification, exaggeration, overkill, embellishment and (in poetry) purple prose.

Today’s Gospel of Mark employs hyperbole, as do other areas of the Bible particularly when Jesus teaches His disciples. In Matthew (5:30) Jesus says: "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.'" Is this to be taken literally from the Lord?

In our Gospel this weekend it seems as if Lord Himself is a referee between some of His Apostles and disciples. At first Jesus responds to John’s question: "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us." Jesus
replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.” Why are some folks at each other’s throats--if--we believe in the same thing? Are we afraid as humans to lose power or prestige? Are we afraid that “someone else” might “best us” in our work of evangelization? What happened to teamwork and the idea that if one shines, we all shine?

A key message in today’s gospel, and one most appropriate for our time, is that scandals are not new to our Church, which is both human and Devine. Christ created us in this manner, as a Church in which humans participate in the glory of God’s salvation by working with Him. It
might not be perfect from our perspective and participation --but it is what it Is--by God’s choice. We are called to seek holiness and work with the Lord of all salvation. And that is why God has given us abundant forgiveness and grace in and though the Sacraments. If we use the Sacramental life of the Church we too can be reformed, or better in today’s technological language, rebooted. But that is on our end, the human end. God Himself is Immutable. He does not nor can he change. Human and Divine is His Church. Sadly, scandals have been with us from the earliest times...even in this Markan Community. That is why Jesus is speaking to
them on this very subject matter. This does not mean that scandals are “good,” “OK,” or somehow “acceptable,” they are NOT. But they are part of our human Condition--so let
us address and correct them.

Fr. Eugene A. LeVeridere, SSS, a leading American Scripture scholar in the post-Vatican II period said that this use of hyperbole by Jesus is not to tell us to take what He said literally, but rather “it is meant to jolt the audience into realizing what is at stake; to change attitudes and behavior.”

The early Church, the Markan community itself as well as others communities, had scandals. The Church-atlarge in other times and places also had scandals--some caused by and which lead to serious disagreements which then impassioned people to act in certain ways--some
good, some bad; and still more are caused by evil--pure and simple. Today we see a sinful scandal that is at the very least initiated by evil and continued by poor in judgment.

What can we, as Catholics do? First, we can and should pray. Pray for guidance from God to do what is righteous. We must acknowledge the past and deal correctly and courageously with it and the victims of sexual abuse to care for them and help heal them; and, finally, we must correctly and firmly with absolute assurances set into place all policies necessary to rid the Church of this evil. And then stick to it.

Hartford Archbishop Leonard Blair has spoken publically and written to all registered parishioners (if you did not receive his letter, be sure you are registered in the parish you attend--if we don’t know you we can’t communicate to you) and continues to do so today. His actions have been resolute. He has instituted, as have past Archbishops, the Charter for the Protection of Children and Young Adults from the Catholic Bishops of the United States as well as the Safe Environment and Child Lures programs. And is now listening to parishioners from all parishes in Listening Sessions. And let us pray together at Mass and in our homes for the victims’ healing and peace as well as for the positive impact that Church’s continued good works may have on our world. For we know, without our faith, what is at stake for our world, our nation and our souls.