Meditation Minute

My Dearest Brothers and Sisters in Christ:

“If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell.”

Gospel Reading: Matthew 5:27-32

27 "You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell. 31 "It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.' But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

What is our ultimate goal in life? Hopefully it is to achieve eternal life in heaven with God. Yet we do things that separate us from God. Today’s words appear rather harsh. Do you think that Jesus really wanted us to cut off our hands or pluck our eyes out. If this was so, the world would be full of blind people with no hands? Jesus uses this approach to let us know that we must separate ourselves from the things that will separate us from eternal life. We must learn to remove ourselves from situations that cause us to sin. If we cannot separate ourselves from the things that cause us to sin, then we are separating ourselves from God. These decisions are not easy and Jesus knows that. How big a sacrifice are you willing to make to get into heaven?

Many times we try to rationalize or justify our actions because we didn’t actually commit the sin. Jesus makes it rather clear in today’s reading. It is not just the action, but all the things that lead up to the action. Many times I hear people say “It’s okay if I read the menu as long as I don’t order.” Jesus tells us that reading the menu is just as wrong as ordering. Once I desire the action, I have committed the sin. In addition, Jesus tells us that anyone who leads someone to sin or anyone who supports the sin, is the real sinner. After reading today’s Gospel, one might conclude that it will be difficult to get into heaven. I think the reading gives hope. Jesus tells us that we must recognize all the things that keep us from entering the kingdom. If we recognize these things, we are enabled to avoid these things. If we avoid these things, then the path to heaven is much easier. This is why it is important to examine your conscience every night. It is important to reflect upon the day to realize not only the actions you committed, but also the things that you committed in your heart. You must ask the tough questions like who did I cause to sin. You must not justify the sins you committed, but recognize them as the evil they actually are.

A Simple Prayer

Lord God, help me to make my eyes and hands worthy of you.

Give the strength and wisdom to recognize the sins of my heart.

Make me aware of the times that I lead others to sin.

I want to bask in your so I can live a life which leads to the narrow gate of heaven.

Yours in Christ

Michael Marcon