Today’s Second Reading comes
from Chapter 5 of James. We have had five weeks of tough talk from James as our
Second Reading in the Liturgy of the Word. James is speaking to converted
Christians – those who embraced the gospel and are now followers of Jesus. He
has been warning them of the danger of relapsing back into the corrupt ways of
the world.
In the gospel for today, Jesus
has some tough things to say as well – his words are downright scary. Cutting
off your hand, tearing out your eye – that there is a real possibility of going
to hell: “… where their worm never dies,
and the fire is never quenched.”
But have we not passed beyond
talking about hell in our time in the Church? We have just recently celebrated
the Year of Mercy, isn’t the message now, “don’t worry God is a merciful God?” How
are we to reconcile mercy with Jesus’ warning of going to hell? Mercy verses
judgement.
An example that I find helpful
is to reflect on the dynamics of the addict and their councillor. The
councillor approaches the addicted person with great compassion. Their message
is clear. Yes, I love you, I will never stop working with you, I am here for
you, right to the end if need be – but you are going to die a hellish death if you
do not stop destroying yourself with your addiction.
We must never forget that God has
created us with the responsibility of freedom of choice, freedom to choose how
we will live our lives, freedom to choose where we want to spend our eternity. Like
addicts of sin Jesus is warning us: If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it
off - if your foot causes you to stumble, cut it off - if your eye causes you
to stumble, tear it out – because if you do not stop …
This is the voice of a loving
parent pleading with their wayward sons and daughters. This is the voice of loving
mercy calling out from the cross, the sign and proof of the desire to forgive. Jesus
will be there for us right up to the very last hour – what will we choose?
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