Pluck It Out
Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
Read this Gospel passage aloud to the family
Mark 9:41-50 Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward.
“Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched.
“Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”
(Parent) Reread this part a few times aloud
“If your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out.”
(Parent) Read this meditation aloud to the family
How about this statement for making a point?! Jesus isn’t advocating removing body parts, but He is advocating taking real, even drastic, measures to avoid serious sin. His point is that it is “Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna.” There is something very important that we need to pay attention to, called the “(near) occasion of sin.” This means any circumstance that makes it easy to sin and hard to be good.
Men struggling with lust shouldn’t have the internet on their phones. Women trying to overcome vanity shouldn’t go shopping for new clothes. Dating couples trying to be pure shouldn’t be alone together in their homes. Children struggling to obey the instruction for no more sweets shouldn’t keep the candy bowl in front of them. It’s easier to stop the devil when he’s on the outside of the door than when we’ve already opened the door a crack. What thing do we need to drastically eliminate to help ensure our salvation?
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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