If Sin is Attractive

Today’s Gospel Text:  "You have heard that it was said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28 But I say to you that every one 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.' 32 But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. Matt 5:27-32

Reflection: There are these Jewish laws which many follow or rather seek to follow even to this day. 

Our generation may ignore the laws and may walk in a freedom apart from the law; a freedom in which the conscience is not bound.

Very few realize that to reject the conscience and the law in freedom actually means to enter into a vicious bondage.

We fail to realize that Judeo-Christian faith preserves and promotes the well being of the human race with its strong sense of teaching, fortified with moral codes that are life sustaining in the long run.

In other words, even though in the immediate sense these moral codes at times may seem detrimental for life but in the long run they have a supportive and sustaining action on preserving life.

But to those who do not understand these things, Jesus' interpretation of these Jewish laws can further burden these fanatics of falsified freedom.

Because Jesus interprets the law much more strictly, with warning of what is in store for the breakers of these laws.

A mere glance at only these teachings of Jesus could present Jesus as a kill joy, hawkish and stone hearted, not understanding the pleasures nor the burden humans who have these problems carry.

Let any human being check his conscience and speak honestly and you will find that we all fall short of the standard which Jesus sets.

But we do not have a Jesus who only sets a standard, but rather a Jesus who warns us of the reality of afterlife and what is more he offers us his eternal presence, now in our midst, through various ways, whether it be through the church or through the sacraments or the close assistance of the angels and saints.

We have a sure hope, no matter how attractive sin at times can be.  

A close look at what salvation God offers us in his Son, who out of love for us died the most miserable death, can be far more attractive.

Prayer: He Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; thou holdest my lot.  I bless the Lord who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I keep the Lord always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Ps 16:5, 7-8

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us

Voice in the Wilderness

Today’s Gospel Text:  In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiber'i-us Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Iturae'a and Trachoni'tis, and Lysa'ni-as tetrarch of Abile'ne, 2 in the high-priesthood of Annas and Ca'iaphas, the word of God came to John the son of Zechari'ah in the wilderness; 3 and he went into all the region about the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet, "The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 5 Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; 6 and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." Luke 3:1-6

Reflection: In our times there are plenty of avenues open to us to entertain ourselves about many things of life. Yet very often people still complain about the boredom of life and grumble about it.

Boredom and loneliness are serious issues and is a profound problem in our times. There are many new inventions and media entertainments to keep us occupied and busy.

We so easily walk into these entrapment's of pleasure and entertainments that we rarely have time to take stock of the reason for our boredom and loneliness, the wilderness of our life.

Many a times we do go through a struggle in the absence of family, relatives and friends who could sort out our urgent issues. Some not being able to cope up end up in depression or are led on to suicides.

The gospel of today spells hope for those who are struggling with the wilderness of life by a great personality who had opted for the wilderness; a forsaken place which the many shun because it kills.

It is hope that the gospel communicates a voice crying in the wilderness in the reign of various personalities in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, in a reign of extravagance. 

It is a word of hope communicated in the vacuum of the wilderness and resounding through the city down to this age:

“Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.  Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be brought low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways shall be made smooth; and all flesh shall see the salvation of God." (Vss. 4-6)

 

These words of his are profound, loaded with rich meaning and above all assurances for all who are willing to take it; whether men in authority or kings or governors or the common men or women on the street.

Only a fool can ignore such a voice that cries in the wilderness and not pause, reflect and respond to this call.

Prayer: Lord, help me to reflect and respond to these words and accept your way as my own.

DD = Dedicated Discipleship:  Come grow in the Lord with us