Do You Love Me?

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I read today's Gospel through tears of joy. I was profoundly touched by the conversation between Jesus and Peter. I was moved to tears by the gentleness and compassion Jesus shows to Peter, and to us if we but ask.  The gregarious, outspoken disciple is finally humbled by the Lord and recognizes, maybe for the first time, that Jesus truly loves him, trusts him, forgives, and forgets all of Peter's failings and weaknesses. This passage is moving but we would do well to first read the entire 21st Chapter of John, a mere 25 verses to really understand how the relationship between these two men has moved to an entirely different level. John brings his Gospel to a close by taking us back to the very beginning of the relationship. Back then, Peter was out fishing all night, catching nothing, before his first encounter with the Lord. Here too, Peter, who is at this point confused, wrestling with emotions of hope and guilt, joy and sorrow, is out fishing all night catching nothing. Ag
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Going to extremes to preserve our souls.

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Throughout the history of the Church we find examples of saints going to extremes out of love for the
Lord or disdain for sin, usually for both.

There are stories of St. Francis of Assisi throwing himself naked into the snow to combat his temptations against impurity. This same saint, when accused by his father of theft, stripped naked in front of the entire town and stated he now had only one Father, who art in Heaven.

St. Thomas Aquinas, when presented with a seductress by his family in order to get him to forget his calling, invited the young lady to make love to him in the burning fireplace so they could prepare themselves for an eternity of fire. She promptly ran for the door.

The 14 year-old virgin Maria Goretti told her suitor that she preferred death rather than sin when he tried to make her lie with him. He stabbed her 14 times and she died not long after forgiving him and praying for him. He was present at her canonization and lived a holy life until his death.

I often think, "that was then", certainly we don't need to go to those extremes today...or do we? Is 2022 the year in most need of followers of Christ going to extremes in their pursuit of holiness? Perhaps, but maybe our "extremes" today look a bit different...

In today's Gospel Jesus tells us that it is basically better that we enter Heaven maimed than spend eternity in Hell whole. He tells us that if our hand, eye, foot, etc., causes us to sin that we should willingly cut them off or pluck them out. That's extreme but the point is well stated. So, what could we say today that may seem extreme but has the same point? What do we need to cut out of our lives or pluck from our midst that is leading us to sin and further away from God?

  • If your cellphone, computer, websites, the internet, social media, or pornography cause you to sin, turn them off, disconnect, destroy them. Better to enter Heaven disconnected from the world than enter Hell connected to all that pulls you from God.
  • If alcohol or drugs cause you to sin, pluck them out of your life. Admit the problem, ask for help. Better to enter Heaven sober than Hell drunk or stoned.
  • If your thoughts are full anger, lust, pride, gossip, envy...get help, ask the saints to adopt you and help you, dedicate time to prayer. Better to enter Heaven at peace than to spend eternity in Hell filled with hateful thoughts.
  • If food causes you to sin, remove it! Better to enter Heaven hungry than Hell with a full belly.
I know, all of this is much easier said than done, agreed.  However, I think it's easier to smash my cellphone with a hammer than cut off my hand with a saw...maybe our extremes look a little different today...

Lent begins March 2nd this year, use it as an excuse to cut, remove, and pluck anything and everything in your life that is keep you away from the Lord. It's far better to enter Heaven maimed or at least without internet than it is to spend eternity on social media, ...er.. I mean in hell, basically the same thing.

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God bless you - Jim Hahn
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