In The Heart
Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
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.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“… everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
Jesus does not shy away from uncomfortable issues. He talks about lust, He talks about suffering, He talks about hell… Jesus is serious about very serious things. He is telling us to be serious about them too. In this particular Gospel, Jesus is telling His listeners to do whatever it takes to avoid serious sin. Certainly Jesus doesn’t want us to literally take off parts of our bodies to avoid sin, but He is telling us that drastic measures are worthwhile to protect our souls.
Lust is a problem for many people. This problem has been made much worse with the dangers of the internet and other entertainment. Modern society tells us that lust is okay. But it is not. It damages lives, marriages, families, and souls. We have to be very serious about fighting against lust. The battle against it is best fought by avoiding temptations to begin with. We must make our home (internet, TV, reading, etc.) a safe haven from lust—for the sake of our family, our marriages, our happiness, and our souls.
As a family, pray a portion of the Rosary together (very short if children are young) reflecting on the Scripture passage above. (Optional: allow a brief time for discussion or questions from children concerning their thoughts and prayer.)
Reminder for Parents: Pier is just meant to be a jumping off point. The real goal is that you pray & eventually use the fruits of your personal prayer as the content of your family’s prayer. Duc in altum.
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