"If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off."

26th Sunday in Ordinary Time

This week's Gospel has some pretty intense words from Jesus about sin in our lives. When talking about our struggle against sin, Jesus makes it pretty clear that we should be working to uproot the things in our lives that lead us to it. He says, "If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off," "And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off," "And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out."

While these statements of Jesus are, of course, hyperbole, the sentiment behind them is not. While God's mercy is vast, the Church has always taught that a contrite heart (one that is sorry for the sin it has committed) is a necessary part of forgiveness, especially within the Sacrament of Reconciliation. Additionally, there must be a firm resolve to change and do better. While many of us continually say the same sins every time we go to Confession, it's the sorrow we feel and the continual effort to improve and be better that are the first steps on the journey to being a better version of ourselves. We may never overcome our faults and foibles, but if we are continually working against them we are in much better shape than if we simply lie back and say, "Welp, no use trying anymore."

So, this week, let us pray that our hearts may be moved to do the hard work of uprooting sin in our lives. While we are not required to cut off our hands and feet or pluck out our eyes, we should be looking to cut out the things (actions, resentments, prejudices, electronics, etc.) in our lives that lead us astray. We should also seek to do works of goodness and justice to move our hearts in a new direction away from sin. It is in doing these things that the grace of God is more able to work in our lives and our faith is able to grow.

Want to prepare your heart and mind for this Sunday's Mass? Click here to find the readings.