Jesus' teaching on adultery and lust in today’s passage is part of the larger context of the Sermon on the Mount, where the Lord teaches His followers to cultivate righteousness that goes beyond external observance of the law. Christians aren’t simply to follow the commandments mindlessly, rather our obedience to God comes from a true reordering of values, a reorienting of desires, authentic interior transformation, and the cultivation of a heart that is fully devoted and aligned to God.
Jesus' words about adultery and lust are part of His call for that complete reorientation of our lives towards God. Again, this reorientation involves not merely external compliance but a deep, interior transformation that affects every aspect of our being, including our desires, thoughts, and relationships. Purity, faithfulness, and sacrificial love are good not simply because they keep us from sin, but because they are good in themselves and mirror God’s being.
So how is this radical reorientation to come about? Our first reading and Psalm give us a hint. They both point to the need to cultivate a rich spiritual life centered on God.
In the first reading from the first book of Kings, Elijah learns to hear the voice of God not in the fierce rock-crushing, mountain-rending wind, the earthquake or the fire, but in the tiny whispering sound. Elijah reorients himself to God through quiet listening.
Similarly, the Psalmist expresses a deep longing to see God's face and be in His presence. He recognizes the need to reorient himself from the activities of normal earthly life to actively pursue God.
Like Elijah, the inner transformation that Jesus desires for us, the reorientation we need comes through quieting our hearts and minds to discern God’s presence and voice through prayer. Like the Psalmist, we must intentionally turn away from earthly activities, to seek the face of God. We must actively create space for silence and attentive listening to God's voice and God’s face.
The reorientation of our lives is only possible through the cultivation of a rich spiritual life. When we seek God's presence in prayer, meditation, and the sacraments, we open ourselves to the transformative power of God’s grace. As we grow closer to God, our desires begin to align with His will, and we find the strength to resist the temptations that once held us captive.
Moreover, a deep spiritual life enables us to see others through the eyes of God, recognizing their inherent dignity and worth. This counteracts the objectification and commodification that often fuel sinful desires like lust.
Let us pray for the grace to cultivate a rich spiritual life, one that transforms our desires and open’s us to the guidance of God’s Spirit who impels us to live as faithful witnesses to God's love in the world, for the glory of God and the salvation of souls.
- - - -
That during this month of June, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, all Christians may witness to the tender love of Christ through our prayer, fasting, and works of charity.
For our young people beginning summer vacation, that they may be kept safe from the errors of our culture and kept in close friendship with Jesus through prayer and acts of mercy.
For all married couples, that they may be faithful to the Gospel in every dimension of their married life—and that single and celibate Christians may witness to the sacrificial, all-embracing love of Christ for all.
For the sick, the impoverished, the lonely, those suffering from mental illness, those most in need, and those near death: may God, through the mercy of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, be close to them in their trials
For all who have died, and for all the poor souls in purgatory, and for X. for whom this Mass is offered.
Incline your merciful ear to our prayers, we ask, O Lord, and listen in kindness to the supplications of those who call on you. Through Christ our Lord
No comments:
Post a Comment