Friday, October 22, 2021

 Friday of the twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time

(Romans 7:18-25a; Luke 12:54-59)

In today’s first reading St. Paul writes as if he just heard the confessions of hundreds of contemporary men.  He might as well have in mind Internet porn as any compulsive sin of his day.  Too many men today are tormented by the temptation to look at lascivious pictures.  At the same time they feel both attracted and repulsed by the images.

The resolution of this dilemma, as Paul suggests, is “Jesus Christ our Lord.”  Not only was he a man who knew temptations like all humans so that men today might emulate his sinlessness.  More importantly, he won for us the grace to overcome selfish desires.  His grace keeps many people walking without stumbling.  And if they fall, he is there to pick them up – a million times if necessary.  He will stay with them, in Penance and especially in the Eucharist, so that they overcome their weakness.

We need Jesus to live upright lives.  We find him in the sacraments, in Scripture, in one another, and in prayer.  We should recognize him as Lord -- not one to trifle with – and follow the counsel he conveys in our conscience.

Monday, April 22, 2013

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter

(Acts 11:1-18; John 10:1-10)

As a simple way to safeguard yourself from Internet porn, a wise man suggests placing an image of Jesus crucified on your computer screen.  If you are tempted to click on furtive link, being reminded of Jesus may dissuade you.  In the gospel today Jesus presents himself in a similar way.

The sheep gate is the entrance of a cove the fold is resting.  It keeps the sheep together while allowing admittance only to the shepherd who comes to care for the animals.  In the extended parable Jesus pictures himself in both roles.  He keeps his flock, the Church, together and tends to its needs.  His word gives the people a common mind and his Body and Blood provide the fullness of spiritual life.

Some resist the image of Jesus as shepherd because it implies that they are as apparently simple-minded as sheep.  This may be an affront to sheep who know at least to come out of the rain.  But more importantly, the image conveys the closeness between Jesus and ourselves.  Like the shepherd gives his or her sheep total concern, Jesus has died that we may live to the fullness of our potential.