+ The gospel reading today provides three clear cut object-lessons
for the disciple of Christ – following His Banner – to have a successful 24-hour
segment that we know of as a “day.” And the three are these: that
which attracts our attention visually, that for which we reach out and grasp
with our hands, and lastly that which takes us “by the foot” or car, or bus to
where we would go: these three things can make or break not only our happiness
here on earth, but will most certainly determine where our treasure is, what
our goal is, and how we are calculating that we are to achieve the goal.
And so, Jesus says: if your
eye is your problem, and causes you to sin, cut it out! Now, he is not talking
literally, of course, but he is talking really and symbolically spiritually: if
what attracts your attention is not of God, not of creation, not of true
beauty, not of realistic proportions and attitude, then you are looking at the
wrong things, you are being duped by glitz and glamour, you are being deceived
by the Serpent, you are not trusting God to place true value, worth, and moral
integrity in your line of sight – and so, Jesus says: tear out these false “eye
contacts” – and see things awesomely as they really are.
Then he says: if your hand is
your problem, if you reach out and grasp all kind of objects, and projects, and
entertainment that is not consistent with one living the gospel values, then
shun those things, and reach out for what will help other people, and then
deliver it to them, even in anonymous ways. It would be the joy of your day to
do something for another without letting them know it was you – using your
hands and your eyes and your mind and heart on their behalf, rather than your
own.
And lastly, if your foot is
your problem, cut it off! If you travel to places that are not consistent with
gospel values, and this has to do with virtual travel as well on the internet –
if you visit sites that you know to be causes of temptation to sin, by
shopping, by lust, by greed – then high-tail it the other direction: for your
own sanity in this world, and eternal life and happiness in the future: our
feet, our cars are meant primarily to help others, and not ourselves: to go and
get necessary supplies for the family, to carry them to legitimate places of
recreation, to carry yourself to legitimate places of work to provide for the
needs of others.
And so let us use our eyes,
hands, and feet today in ways that build up other people, as we traverse that
pathway to the fullness of the kingdom that awaits us. And we shall go to sleep
tonight with a clear and peace-filled conscience – and the angels will minister
to us and give us happy dreams! Amen.
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