Jesus said to his disciples:
“I tell you, unless your righteousness surpasses
that of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
“You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you,
whoever is angry with brother
will be liable to judgment.
“You have heard that it was said,
You shall not commit adultery.
But I say to you,
everyone who looks at a woman with lust
has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
“Again you have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
Do not take a false oath,
but make good to the Lord all that you vow.
But I say to you, do not swear at all.
Let your ‘Yes’ mean ‘Yes,’and your ‘No’ mean ‘No.’
Anything more is from the evil one.” MT 5:20-22, 27-28, 33-34, 37
Jesus teaches us today some of the greatest lessons in life. How to deal properly with anger, lust, and having a true heart. All of these begin in our hearts. They then move to our minds and ultimately into our actions. God gave us spiritual powers that are more powerful than any superpowers. He gave us intellect (which includes reason) and a will to choose. Our hearts intentions begin with a belief in our minds. Heaven and hell exist first in our minds. Then, it moves to learn how to deal with these difficult issues in our families. The family is the backbone of our society. There has always been anger in people. I still fail from time to time losing my temper, but anger is really holding onto something that hurts in the relationships or people we deal with each day. In marriage and raising children, I have failed so many times, almost daily, in controlling my anger. The best way to conquer it so far I have learned is by being unselfish and being a servant. It is in many failures in getting what I want instead of putting the other before self. This does not mean you get taken advantage of which is the thought the devil puts in our minds. If my dignity is attacked, I will stand firm very quickly. Love is patient and is complete unselfishness. Jesus has taught us how to truly be unselfish and to serve. The pleasure of the flesh is a temptation for all. With several hours of screen time, we see so many images, and can easily be more tempted with lust. I have failed many times with lust. In learning what true love is through many years of marriage and sacrifice, I am beginning to learn to fight lust. Prayer, bringing myself to God’s grace in the Catholic ER (Eucharist and Reconciliation) sometimes weekly or daily, and fasting from TV, computer, phone, or tablets when being tempted by lust has transformed me. The rosary is a powerful tool, as well. Love is patient, God is always ready to forgive, and Mary is a strong intercessor in purity with Joseph by her side. Last, to grow stronger in making my yes, yes and my no, no, I have learned that I must know who God is and who I am. We all go through many things in life. In dealing with relationships, trust is the foundation. If we lie or we are fake, as we grow older people can see right through us. Knowing who God is and who you are helps us understand our identity as a child of God and brother and sister of Jesus Christ. Then, we begin to establish trust in our relationships. This may be the most important factor in helping us control our anger, be at peace in our relationships with God and others, and love not lust. The center of all of it is Jesus who looks upon His people with pity, love, and mercy. He understands and died to prove it. When we stop fighting these difficult problems, we take away the power of the Cross. Through the spiritual powers God gave us, the grace we receive through Jesus’s death and resurrection, we have the power to grow in holiness, defeat the devil, and live out our baptismal vows. This is what we are made for. We are set apart by God for the mission of being an image of Christ for others in a dark world where anger, lust, and being fake runs wild everywhere.
Today’s challenge: Begin the fight against the devil starting in your mind, with the intent in your heart to grow in holiness and be with God forever, so that others will be inspired to love by seeing God through you.
Be a servant, become a saint!
#Christian YOLO
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