Jesus said to his disciples:
“Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink
because you belong to Christ,
amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin,
it would be better for him if a great millstone
were put around his neck
and he were thrown into the sea.
If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off.
It is better for you to enter into life maimed
than with two hands to go into Gehenna,
into the unquenchable fire.
And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off.
It is better for you to enter into life crippled
than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna.
And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.
Better for you to enter into 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.
“Everyone will be salted with fire.
Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid,
with what will you restore its flavor?
Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.” MK 9:41-50
I don’t know about you but I love to rationalize my sin. I say to myself it wasn’t that bad or everyone else is doing it. I am young and just having fun right now, I’ll change when I get older. These types of choices have created sinful habits in my life. I have a feeling that this is the story for most of us. Part of our Christian identity that we must accept is that we are sinners. Then, we have a choice. Never tire of coming back to God’s mercy and love even if we have to go to confession every week or continue to lie to ourselves and continue in a vicious circle of sin. Since Jesus Christ died and rose conquering sin and death, we too through our baptism have the spiritual powers of mind and will to conquer sin in our lives. We don’t have to be controlled by sin anymore. This is the fiercest and most difficult battle we will face with the temptations of the Devil. It is only by God’s grace we can accomplish it. Consistently going to the Catholic ER (Eucharist and Reconciliation) to be resuscitated by God can we strive to not sin and be holy. If we don’t fight, we lost the power of the cross and Christ’s mission to save us is compromised. Does sin have consequences? Jesus makes it very clear today. What is His point today? Reflect on the areas of your life where you are sinning. If there is a specific place in your home you are sinning at certain times, avoid it. Do something different and pray. If you are sinning with an electronic device, at a certain time, put the device away or it is best to get rid of it for a week or a month. This may seem radical, but we only have one chance for heaven. Our efforts must be radical, for “no stain of sin will enter heaven”. St. Augustine says, “If you do the same thing you are going to get the same results”. I read that and say, “duh”. Oh but how many times I do the same things that lead to the same sins and struggle with changing what is leading me to that sin. We all have our favorite sins and we often go to them when we are stressed or tired. May we ask the grace of God to help us change, grow closer to Him, avoid the near occasion of sin and reflect on ways we can “cut off our hands, feet, and pluck out our eyes” so we stop hurting God and our relationship with Him through sin.
Today’s challenge: Reflect on the areas of your life where sin happens. Ask God for help to change. Come to His graces in the Eucharist and Reconciliation.
Be a servant, Become a saint!
Christian YOLO
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