Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time

Alleluia, alleluia.
Shine like lights in the world,
as you hold on to the word of life.
Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32
“If your eye causes you to sin”

27 “You have heard that it was said, `You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that every one who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.  29 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. 30 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.  31 “It was also said, `Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’  But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Quote from the early church fathers:

The fuel of adultery, by Chromatius (died 406 AD)

“Because adultery is a serious sin and in order to uproot it, lest our conscience be defiled, he [Jesus] forbade even lust, which is the fuel of adultery. According to the words of blessed James in his epistle, ‘Lust when it has conceived gives birth to sin; and sin when it is full-grown brings forth death’ (James 1:15). The Holy Spirit speaks concerning this to David: ‘Happy shall he be who takes your little ones and dashes them against the rock’ (Psalm 137:9). The symbolism here is that the blessed and truly evangelical person roots out the desires and lust of the flesh arising from human weakness. He does this immediately before they grow, at the onset, through faith in Christ who has been described as a rock” (1 Corinthians 10:4) (excerpt from TRACTATE ON MATTHEW 23.1.6–7)

[Note: Chromatius was an early Christian scholar and bishop of Aquileia, Italy. He was a close friend of John Chrysostom and Jerome. He died in 406 AD. Jerome describead him as a “most learned and most holy man.”]

Prayer:
“Lord Jesus, begin a new work of love within me. Instill in me a greater love and respect for your commandments. Give me a burning desire to live a life of holiness and righteousness. Purify my thoughts, desires, and intentions that I may only desire what is pleasing to you and in accord with your will.”