Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time (May 24, 2018): What's causing you to sin? Cut it out!

Our first reading today speaks to the rich, but even if we’re financially poor, we probably have the same materialistic attitudes. Shopping malls today are designed to attract customers by appealing to our wish for wealth. Their marble floors and high ceilings and palatial architecture and indoor gardens cater to our commoner’s wish to feel like royalty.

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus warns us that it’s very dangerous to cater to the desires of our flesh-nature. Notice that he does not say we’re destroyed by the things of this world — we are destroyed by wrongly using or responding to the things of this world. He puts the blame squarely on our hands, our feet, our eyes — not on what we hold, where we go, or what we see.

“If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off!” Our hands can bless others with loving touches or they can slap. They can hold the Blessed Eucharist in adoration or they can grab it as we rush out of the door to continue a very worldly life.

“If your foot causes you to sin, cut it off!” Our feet can take us to those extra events at church (daily Mass, parish missions, holy days of obligation, ministry meetings, etc.) or they can take us to bars and parties where we contribute to sinful jokes, drinking and lustful affairs.

“If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out!” Our eyes can lead us into a state of meditation as we admire a beautiful statue of the Blessed Mother or they can mentally “undress” a sexy-looking body. They can behold the true presence of Jesus in the Eucharist or they can watch immoral TV shows.

Jesus says, “Cut it out!”

Jesus also says, “Everyone will be salted with fire.” Salt is a purifier. Salt gets rid of the bacteria that cause food to spoil. But what’s the “fire” that will salt us? The Holy Spirit!

We can get rid of the sinfulness that spoils our lives by letting the Holy Spirit consume us like a fire consuming a candle. Every morning, give God your hands, your feet, your eyes — give him everything that might cause you to sin. Jesus is saying, “Keep the salt of my love in your hearts and you will be at peace with one another.”

We don’t need to go to the mall to feel like royalty. As we are purified by the fire of the Holy Spirit, we become who we really are: royal princes and princesses of the Great King of the Universe!

Today’s Prayer:

Thank You, Lord, because Your Spirit purifies me, empowers me and gives me the strength I need to let go of everything that takes me away from You. Amen.