The Lord our knows everything and sees into our hearts. There is nothing we can hide from Him. And why should we, if we truly love Him and are following after Him.
If we truly love Him then how can we do or say things that we know will offend Him? How can we allow a second go by without turning back to Him after we’ve sinned! Or allow ourselves to our time as though we have enough time or to be foolish enough to think we can accumulate our sins so as to not go so often for reconciliation?
Our souls already start dying the second we sin! Why allow ourselves to be separated from His presence, love, peace and joy?
Truly sisters and brothers in Christ, if we love our Lord then we must resist sin to the point of shedding our blood. And rush quickly back into His divine embrace having sinned, so that we can be healed, fully restored in His love. So as to minister to our brethren even with little acts of mercy and kindness. Amen
________
First reading
Ecclesiasticus 5:1-10
Do not delay your return to the Lord
Do not give your heart to your money,
or say, ‘With this I am self-sufficient.’
Do not be led by your appetites and energy
to follow the passions of your heart.
And do not say, ‘Who has authority over me?’
for the Lord will certainly be avenged on you.
Do not say, ‘I sinned, and what happened to me?’
for the Lord’s forbearance is long.
Do not be so sure of forgiveness
that you add sin to sin.
And do not say, ‘His compassion is great,
he will forgive me my many sins’;
for with him are both mercy and wrath,
and his rage bears heavy on sinners.
Do not delay your return to the Lord,
do not put it off day after day;
for suddenly the Lord’s wrath will blaze out,
and at the time of vengeance you will be utterly destroyed.
Do not set your heart on ill-gotten gains,
they will be of no use to you on the day of disaster.
________
Gospel
Mark 9:41-50
If your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off
Jesus said to his disciples:
‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink just because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward.
‘But anyone who is an obstacle to bring down one of these little ones who have faith, would be better thrown into the sea with a great millstone round his neck. And if your hand should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life crippled, than to have two hands and go to hell, into the fire that cannot be put out. And if your foot should cause you to sin, cut it off; it is better for you to enter into life lame, than to have two feet and be thrown into hell. And if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out; it is better for you to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than to have two eyes and be thrown into hell where their worm does not die nor their fire go out. For everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is a good thing, but if salt has become insipid, how can you season it again? Have salt in yourselves and be at peace with one another.’
CatholicJules.net 