Reflect today on the direct language that Jesus uses

Da Paolo Tessione - June 12, 2020

“If your right eye makes you sin, tear it up and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand makes you sin, cut it and throw it away. "Matthew 5: 29-30a

Does Jesus really mean this? Literally?

We can be sure that this language, which is shocking, is not a literal command but rather a symbolic statement that orders us to avoid sin with great zeal and avoid everything that leads us to sin. The eye can be understood as a window on our soul where our thoughts and desires reside. The hand can be seen as a symbol of our actions. Therefore, we must eliminate every thought, affection, desire and action that leads us to sin.

The real key to understanding this passage is to let ourselves be influenced by the powerful language that Jesus uses. He does not hesitate to speak shockingly to reveal to us the call that we must face with zeal what leads to sin in our life. "Pluck it ... cut it out," he says. In other words, eliminate your sin and everything that leads you to sin definitively. The eye and the hand are not sinful in and of themselves; rather, in this symbolic language one speaks of those things that lead to sin. Therefore, if certain thoughts or actions lead you to sin, these are the areas to be struck and eliminated.

As for our thoughts, we can sometimes afford to dwell too much on this or that. Consequently, these thoughts can lead us to sin. The key is to "tear" that initial thought that produces the bad fruit.

As for our actions, we can sometimes put ourselves in situations that tempt us and lead to sin. These sinful occasions must be cut off from our lives.

Reflect today on this very direct and powerful language of our Lord. Let the strength of his words be an impulse for change and avoidance of all sins.

Lord, I am sorry for my sin and I ask for your mercy and forgiveness. Please help me avoid everything that leads me to sin and abandon all my thoughts and actions every day. Jesus I believe in you.