GOD’S WORD FOR THE DAY (based on Catholic Liturgical Readings)
DATE: 12TH FEBRUARY 2017
SIXTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
FIRST READING: Sirach 15:15-20
PSALM: Psalm 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34
SECOND READING: 1Corinthians 2:6-10
GOSPEL: Matthew 5:17-37
THEME: THE STAIN OF SIN
Four hours to the celebration of her marriage, she discovered a stain on her wedding garment. She first tried to use ‘ordinary’ soap to get rid of it but was unsuccessful. One detergent after the other failed. With a great sense of determination and a panting breath, she frantically browsed through the internet, googling her way through but no practicable solution was found. Her face was smeared with frustration. On the verge of giving up, her aunt arrived on the scene; she saw the mess and proposed a remedy – a particular chemical substance. She lowered that portion of her stained garment into the liquid substance, and, “eureka”, the stain was gone and a great sigh of relief followed.
Often we are more concerned about stains on our clothing than the stain of sin on our souls. We put in so much effort to get rid of minor stains on our cherished clothes but ignore big stains on our souls.
In our Gospel text, Jesus tells his audience, “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell” (Mat. 5:29-30). The language appears to be excessively strong. Though not meant to be taken literally, it expresses the attitude we ought to have when dealing with sin. In sum, sin should not be entertained at all.
To sin or not to sin is a choice each one of us would have to make on a daily basis. The Book of Sirach figuratively expresses this choice when it says, “He has placed before you fire and water: stretch out your hand for whichever you wish. Before a man are life and death, and whichever he chooses will be given to him” (Sir. 15:16-17).
Choices have consequences both in the present and future. With the strong wave of secularism blowing in many parts of the world, sin appears to have lost its fangs to bite. This is deceptive. Sin is still a bad tenant. No matter how beautiful it appears, it always leaves behind pain and sorrow.
More than ever, we need divine wisdom to unmask evil, to walk away from wrongdoing and walk towards the light of glory.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, wash away my sins in your blood and make me resolute in my decision to avoid the near occasion of sin. Amen
Andrews Obeng, svd
DIVINE WORD MISSIONARIES
BIBLICAL PASTORAL MINISTRY
(Ghana Province)
“May the darkness of sin and the night of unbelief vanish before the light of the Word and the Spirit of grace. And may the heart of Jesus live in the hearts of all people” (St. Arnold Janssen).