Be At Peace
Jesus made great efforts to heal sinners. He was greatly criticized for His welcome to sinners. He kindly healed them if they “sinned no more.” But in today’s Gospel, make no mistake about it, He speaks with utmost severity about the horror and the destructiveness of sin. “If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off; it is better for you to enter life crippled, than, having your two hands, to go into hell, into the unquenchable fire”
Humans do not determine what is or is not sin. That has been determined by God when He created us. Sin is always highly venomous and destructive even when one might not be guilty. The judgement of God will be merciful when the person is ignorant, but terrible damage will be done. If one swallows poison and believes it will cure him, he will still die. One of the most dangerous things one can hear is “if you think it is OK. it is OK”.
In Scripture one of the main names for sin in Hebrew is “awon”. This word means iniquity, depravity. It is a perversity that is an objective reality that does not change. The whole nation for years has been terrified by Covid-19. Sin can do infinitely more damage to us more than any virus. It can destroy our loving relationship with God which is our most beautiful gift from God.
1) Despite Christ’s warning about misleading others, many have promoted a false Christ who is like a totally non-judgmental friend. Reflect on Christ’s actual words which clearly warn of His violent punishment (thrown into unquenchable fire) for those who sin and lead others into sin. Holy fear is warranted.
2) Christ makes it absolutely clear that Hell exists and it is horrific. Renew your understanding of Hell (CCC 1033-1037) and pray for Christ to lead you to Heaven.
3) Having dominated Satan in the Temptation, Christ urges men to be deadly serious about avoiding temptation. Review the Catechism’s sections on Temptation (CCC 1808; 2846-2849; 2863) and pray for Christ to give you the fortitude to avoid temptation.
Peace be with you
Fr . Joseph