Pluck It Out!

"And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out." Mark 9:47

There is an amazing legend of Saint Lucy of Syracuse. She is the Patron Saint of the blind and of eye problems. She wanted to remain a virgin and refused to be married. When she had a suitor who pined for her beautiful eyes, she plucked them out and sent them to him, so that he would leave her alone. According to the story, God miraculously restored her eyes. Then another rejected suitor renounced her as a Christian to the magistrate. When she refused to give a sacrifice to the Emperor's image, she was sentenced to be placed in a brothel. When the guards came to execute the sentence, they found her body so heavy, they could not carry her even if they pulled her with a team of oxen!!! Finally, they decided to gouge her eyes out, but she was still able to see without her eyes.  Pictures of Saint Lucy often depict her eyes on a plate. 

The story is quite gory, and we cannot tell which part of it really happened! What is true is that Jesus did say if any part of our body causes us to sin, whether it be our eyes, our hand, our foot, our lips, it is better to pluck or cut it off, rather than we be “thrown into Gehenna, where the worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched".  In the Bible, Gehenna was where some kings of Judah sacrificed children to the god Molech by throwing them into the fire in the Valley of Hinnom. In Jewish Rabbinic literature, it is where the wicked go when they die. 

Do we believe in Hell or not? Jesus obviously knew it existed. Lord, thank You for coming down, to speak our language, to teach us, but most of all, to save us from Gehenna. You have done everything so that we would not be thrown into Genenna, but to enjoy eternal life with You. May our eyes see as You see, with compassion, and love, for everyone we meet. 

Restless Hearts

“What reason can the teacher have for eating with tax collectors and those who disregard the law?” Matthew 9:11 

Isn’t it awesome that Jesus who had no spot of sin, ate with sinners? If he was here today, who would he be eating with? I would think the politicians and the “best and the brightest” of this administration would be ecstatic to eat with Him. I would be like the Pharisees looking on in dismay! I can be really self-righteous, judgmental, and blind. 

If only we could be like Jesus and see the hearts of those we despise and label as “sinners”. What would we see? Would we see arrogance or would we see a feeling of unworthiness, self-pity, and emptiness? Would we see entitlement or would we see a person who has been struggling with insecurity and discontent his or her whole life? It is usually the people in pain who hurt and malign others. It is usually the ones who feel lack in their life who grab and claw at any advantage. No matter how rich, famous, popular, and powerful a person is, he will always feel something lacking if he does not fill up the God-sized hole within himself. 

Jim Carrey said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it's not the answer.” There’s only one answer and that’s what St. Augustine realized after searching all over with his questions. “Our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.” 

Woe to the Bloody City!

 

"Woe to the bloody city, all lies, full of plunder, whose looting never stops!" Nahum 3:1

This was written by the prophet Nahum more than 2600 years ago about Nineveh, which was the most famous capital of the Assyrian Empire. Where is Nineveh today? Where are its walls and fortifications and palaces built for Kings? It is in the suburbs of Mosul, Iraq. Just as the prophet predicted, it was destroyed in 612 B.C. Today, its ancient walls and gates, the tomb of Jonah, preserved for thousands of years are being devastated anew by Isis. 

Today I think of the great cities of the world with its lies and plunder, where the looting never stops. I think of my country where murder is committed every day in the name of the war against drugs. The cries of the prophets are muted today. The church vilified because of its own sins. Lord, we know You are the God of justice and righteousness. You destroyed Nineveh, one of the greatest cities of its time. Just as Abraham pleaded for a city in his time, so we cry out to You for our country. Spare us O Lord! Help us turn to You so we may see Your face and You will heal our land! 

The Priceless Gift of Forgiveness

Pleeease forgive me for always having a messy desk!

Everyone has been so nice, saying it is busy, creative,

but let's face it- it is all out, no holds barred, MESSY!

And today is no different!

I always have such a small space to work!

Do you see the empty nebules of Flixotide above my journal?

Most people would throw that away, but not me!

I'm planning to make vases out of it!

On my journal this morning is a quote from Romans 2:4:

"Do you hold His priceless kindness, 

forbearance and patience in low esteem,

unaware that the kindness of God

would lead you to repentance?"

If you are anything like me, 

you don't like asking for forgiveness,

whether from a human being or from God!

There's a lot of junk in our life

(and I'm not just talking about nebules!)

that need flushing out, cleaning up,

and relegating to the dust bin,

but do we do it?

St. Augustine is the patron saint of brewers

because for many years he lived his life 

wantonly enjoying himself with parties

and worldly pursuits.

As the story goes (from Catholic.org),

he heard about two men who had

suddenly been converted and 

he felt terribly ashamed of himself.

"What are we doing?" he cried to his friend.

"Unlearned people are taking Heaven by force, 

while we, with all our knowledge, are so cowardly

that we keep rolling around in the mud of our sins!"

Full of bitter sorrow, Augustine flung himself

out into the garden and cried out to God,

"How long more, O Lord? Why does not this hour 

put an end to my sins?"

Just then he heard a child singing,

"Take up and read!"

Thinking God intended him to hear those words,

he picked up the book of the 

Letters of Saint Paul, and read the first passage

his gaze fell on. It was just what Augustine needed,

for in it, St. Paul says to put away all impurity 

and to live in imitation of Jesus.

From then on, Augustine lived a new life! 

How amazing that God gives us this priceless gift!

We can just go to Him,

ask forgiveness and we too are new creations! 

We can begin anew! 

Joining the lovely Julia for a 

peek at desks and projects!

Linking up with
Encouraging Words Wednesday