A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew 5:27-32
Jesus said to his disciples: "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. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. "It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."
REFLECTION: "... already committed adultery with her in his heart..."
Jesus makes it a point to talk about adultery in specific terms. Adultery or infidelity is a cowardly act. It not only destroys a marriage but also attacks the very institution of Marriage. But most important of all it is a sin against God. This sin originates with the desire for something that is not ours and has many layers. Mere lustful thoughts without any outward act is a sin.
Maria A encouraged her husband after his stroke. Tim A prayed for his wife’s remission. They both overcame their illnesses. One day Maria A received a call that her husband, Tim A, had died in another woman’s bed. Maria was devastated — she had been betrayed and that is all she remembers of their marriage.
Good and bad thoughts originate in the heart. If we want to be with God and follow His way we should eliminate anything or anyone who leads us to sin. No matter our age, no matter our position in life we all fall prey to temptation. We need to get rid of all things that lead us away from God, be it social media, television shows, books, and even people. We need to stay close to God so that He can help us to resist temptation. Thoughts, desires and imaginations against chastity are not in line with God's will.
Have we accepted our vocation in life? Have we flirted with a married person? Have we shown tenderness and love to someone other than our spouse? May we pray that our priests are not faced with temptations contrary to their vocation and that they keep their heart intact and away from misdirected affection.
