CUT IT OFF…

1 Kings 19:9,11-16
9 And there he came to a cave, and lodged there; and behold, the word of the LORD came to him, and he said to him, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
11 And he said, “Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the LORD.” And behold, the LORD passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and broke in pieces the rocks before the LORD, but the LORD was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the LORD was not in the earthquake;
12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the LORD was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice.
13 And when Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. And behold, there came a voice to him, and said, “What are you doing here, Elijah?”
14 He said, “I have been very jealous for the LORD, the God of hosts; for the people of Israel have forsaken thy covenant, thrown down thy altars, and slain thy prophets with the sword; and I, even I only, am left; and they seek my life, to take it away.”

15 And the LORD said to him, “Go, return on your way to the wilderness of Damascus; and when you arrive, you shall anoint Hazael to be king over Syria;
16 and Jehu the son of Nimshi you shall anoint to be king over Israel; and Elisha the son of Shaphat of Abel-meholah you shall anoint to be prophet in your place.

Matthew 5:27-32
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.’32 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.

MEDITATION

THE FIRST READING: After fleeing from Jezebel a proponent of Baal worship who vowed to kill him, Elijah proverberly finds himself between a rock and a hard place in a cave where he thought of commiting suicide! Amidts the conflicting loud fearful noises that was caused by the wind, earthquake and fire, Elijah heard the “still small voice” of  God who spoke to him. 

Elijah makes a sincere act of contrition, confessingly pouring out his heart and soul to God (v14) for the things he did that has isolated him! God sent Elijah to Damascus to install a new king of Israel and to anoint Elisha to replace him as the new prophet.  

THE GOSPEL READING: When Christ assert that it is better to “lose one of your members,” He naturally imply that the believer whose immoral acts are in the public eye, either desist from doing so by making an act of contrition, or he or she be cut off from the body of Christ! Christ furthermore put an end to the liberal issuing of divorce certificates that Moses allowed. “Unchastity” or ‘porneia’ meaning immoral acts of marraige that has taken place between a man and a woman who are closely related to one another, is elict and must therefore be nullified by the Church, implying it was never a consacrated marriage! 

Rather than hidding our sins under cover of darkness we must also cut off thoughts of commiting suicide and find the voice of Christ in silence in front of the Tabernacle. Moreover we are called to live virtuous lives and remove ourselves from the occasion and dangers of; immoral unrestrained, unconscionable sexual desires and acts that can ruine our lives; cut us off from society, the Church, Christs love and that can cause us to go to hell! 

LET US PRAY:Psalms 27:7-9,13-14

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me!8 Thou hast said, “Seek ye my face.” My heart says to thee, “Thy face, LORD, do I seek.”9 Hide not thy face from me. Turn not thy servant away in anger, thou who hast been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation!
13 I believe that I shall see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living!
14 Wait for the LORD; be strong, and let your heart take courage; yea, wait for the LORD!

Commentary. Henry R SYLVESTER Note: The daily scripture readings are taken from the Roman Missal which the Catholic Church use in the daily Celebration of the Holy Eucharist throughout the world.Some weekly readings may differ because of the celebration of local feast days