Is your heart pure? Are you a chaste person? - Daily Reflections June 13,2014

BLESSED ARE THE PURE OF HEART

 

Jesus challenges those who follow Him to love all people with utmost respect and purity. It is a call to treat one another as true sisters and brothers in the Lord. St. John reminds us that the world, with all its lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride, has nothing to offer those in relationship with the Father (1 John 2:16). Lust is one of the capital sins and Jesus warns us in the Gospel that to even look at a woman (or man, for that matter) is an act of adultery. Adultery is taking another’s spouse for one’s sexual pleasure.  Adulterers have no place in the Kingdom of God. Taking it a step further, Jesus remarks that to marry a divorced woman is an act of adultery. Marriage is a serious relationship and should be upheld with utmost respect. It is a sign of God’s love for His people and Christ’s love for His Church.

       In a world where sexual immorality is rampant and seemingly rising, the Christian stands as a great witness to purity and chastity. “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see God” is one of the Beatitudes of Jesus. If lust seems a problem, then we need to deal with it. Jesus comments to tear the eye or hand out rather than lose the whole body and enter hell. This is strong language indeed, and not to be taken literally. Nevertheless, it calls for drastic measures. We should never allow lust to take hold of our lives because it has a power of its own that leads to death.

       All of us are created in the image and likeness of God. Let us thank God for the gift of beauty in one another. Indeed, how great God is in creating all races of people unique in His eyes. Lust distorts our attitudes and behavior. We must pray and fight the battle for the grace of chastity, a right ordering of our sexuality in whatever state of life we are in — married, consecrated or single. We all belong to the Lord.

       Let us offer to the Lord our body as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to the Lord (Romans 12:1). We are members of the Body of Christ and He is the head. Our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit. Fr. Brian Steele, MGL

 

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: Is your heart pure? Are you a chaste person?                                                                     

 

Lord, give me the grace of purity. Let me see others through Your eyes of love. Amen.