It is better for you to
enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire.
Two heavy readings today remind us of death and judgment,
heaven and hell. I have written enough invective about the one percent that supposedly
controls most of our wealth; I think I can let Saint James have the last word
about them. If they will not listen to Moses and the scriptures, or even one
who rose from the dead, they certainly won’t be bothered by the ranting of
hospital chaplain.
In today’s gospel Jesus reminds us of the urgency to choose
wisely. I assume he is speaking of “spiritual amputation” when he talks about
cutting off hands and plucking out eyes. I see enough amputations in the
hospital to know that having one’s foot severed doesn’t do much for one’s
spiritual life.
But, the older I get, the more amputations I have to
do on myself; or at least, I have to ask confessors, counselors and friends to
help me cut it off.
Three years ago I took a few hundred dollars’ worth of pipes,
pipe cleaners, pipe lighter and tamper, plus some stale tobacco and tossed the
whole kit caboodle in the dumpster. As I did so, I said, “I’m going to regret
this.” And I do. I would often like to tamp down a pipeful and puff my way through another "homily." There's something about nicotine that loosens the creative juices. But -- alas -- I threw my pipes away.
And so what? The time had come to quit the practice of
smoking. So I regret doing a good thing. I’ve got enough bad things to regret, God knows! I
might as well add a good one to the pile.
The teaching reminds us how difficult it can be to alter
one’s self. The older I get the more attitudes I have to give up, the more
foods I cannot eat, the more distractions I cannot afford, and so forth. Were I to pursue all my favorite activities I would
have no time to do what my Lord has sent me to do. So I amputate them. I take
them off my bucket list and defer them to eternity.
But, you might say, this really is impossible. How difficult
it is to change one’s eating habits, spending habits, and self-comforting
habits! All things are possible in God -- even the amputation of a limb.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.