In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus prepares His disciples for His impending death. He is on His way to Jerusalem and the Cross. He teaches them that discipleship is humble service rather than position and power. Service and humility are sterling qualities of discipleship and true marks of greatness. They have to learn from Jesus that ministry is shared responsibility and He calls them to put aside petty jealousies and respect the gifts of those who work in His name. This is important in our ministry because we are tempted to think that we have the monopoly of doing good. Jesus points out that God is working through all kinds of people. The Spirit of God cannot be controlled by human structures. The Holy Spirit is beyond the structures of the Church because it is like the wind that blows where it wills. No restrictions can be placed on God’s action. He is free to choose people and reveal Himself to anybody. God’s power can appear in unexpected places and persons. That is why Jesus calls His disciples to a radical conversion, a radical change of mind and heart. He uses hyperbole, that is, exaggerated language to dramatize the danger of causing injury to the little ones. He identifies with the lowly and the marginalized in our society. He said that if your hand and foot cause you to sin, cut them off. If your eye causes to sin, pluck it out. It is better for you to enter 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 (Mark 9:43-48). He does not advocate self-mutilation or surgical amputation but He underlines the need to discipline our hands, feet and eyes. The images refer to pruning, cleansing and purification so that like the branches we bear fruits that will last. He wants to use our hands, feet and eyes to reach out to the lost and the needy. He invites us to choose the life of virtues so that the flow of grace will continue through us and into the world. Discipleship requires also amputation but, in the sense, that we need to amputate our bad habits, addictions, resentments, greediness and selfish ambitions. Salvation is for all and we need to recognize that we receive huge and enormous gifts from God but with great responsibility. We are children of the light but we are also capable of profound cruelty and distortion. Thus, the need for us to ask for the grace of radical change of values and priorities.