Tuesday of the
First Week of Lent
(Isaiah 55:10-11; Matthew 6:7-15)
Certainly the most confessed sin among men is viewing pornography. Many cannot control themselves even though
the sin involves a manual action. Some
say pornography is a victimless crime, but that is patently false. It involves numerous people in the smut
industry. It also affects the
relationship of a man with his wife or future wife. Most of all it distorts the man’s brain which
will seek ever more outrageous satisfaction.
The readings today suggest what might be done to overcome this vice.
Isaiah tells of the effectiveness of God’s word. Dabar,
Hebrew for word, created the
universe. It certainly can liberate those
who feel bound up by a particular sin. In
the Lord’s Prayer Jesus shows his disciples how to ask directly on behalf of their
needs. Troubled by the sin of lust, men will
ask to be delivered from the evil. They will
pray it often especially when handling their telephone or computer.
We would like an egalitarian society where all people
live together in peace. If that is ever to
become even a near reality, we must tame our covetous impulses. We will accomplish this only by beseeching
God’s life-giving word in prayer.
