26th Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sept. 30, 2012
Fr. Joseph Eddy, O. de M.
(Full text of sermon) A few years ago as a newly ordained priest, I was stationed in Florida. It was a very exciting time for me since I could now finally put into practice all the things that I had learned in Seminary. Also, for the first time, I was living in a semi-tropical climate, and enjoying the experience of year-round sunny days. Going for a walk each day was a unique experience for a northeasterner who had never lived in the deep south. It was amazing to me how different the wildlife was from the north. Florida had animals that I had never seen in person before such as flamingos, cranes, and, of course, the gecko.
Try to watch this video and not chuckleOK, a vocation is a serious matter, but sometimes there are things to laugh about. Watch our video, “Hearing God’s Call – Two Mercedarian Friars” on the of the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy. You’ll see Br. Matthew and Fr. Scott share some chuckles as they talk about their vocations.
Visit the Mercedarians’
The gecko has become famous in America because of the car insurance company that has a “talking gecko” as their spokesperson or should I say spokesanimal. During my walks on hot summer days these little creatures were everywhere. My every step on the sidewalk sent them running for cover into the grass.
Sacrifices his tail
One of the most interesting things about the gecko is their natural defense mechanism. If someone was to try to grab a gecko by the tail they would be left holding a detached tail, while the reptile ran for safety. They are willing to lose their tail in order to save their head and body. Some would say that this is a great loss, but the animal will soon grow anther tail and live on despite the brush with death.
In our Gospel today, our Lord speaks about the need to sacrifice in order to avoid serious sin and eternal damnation. The gecko sacrifices his tail, but saves his life. We must be willing to sacrifice things sometimes to avoid scandal, serious sin, and the loss of eternal life.
Jesus by His passion, death, and resurrection has opened the gates of eternal life to those who are baptized. At our baptism we receive sanctifying grace, Divine Sonship, and freedom from all our sins. Paradise is opened to us if we would just keep the light of faith burning. Serious sin breaks the communion we have with our Father and threatens to extinguish the light of faith within us. Thankfully, the Sacrament of Confession offers us the opportunity to seek reconciliation with God and the communion of believers.
Sin-hardened habits
As we sin repeatedly we develop bad habits or vices. Each time we sin, it gets harder for us to break the habits that we have developed. We often refer to these vices or bad habits as addictions. Today in our secular society many are struggling with serious addictions to alcohol, drugs, and pornography. Scientists are telling us that these addictions can actually change the way in which the brain functions and, thus, can seriously impair one’s freedom to choose that which is good.
Vices or addictions are powerful things that can destroy one’s life, family, and self-image. We must respect the power of addictions and understand that the person who struggles with them is in a lifelong battle against a real evil. The person must be willing to say, “I am powerless over this addiction and cannot overcome it without the grace of God.” By its nature the addiction becomes a “god” for the person who is nothing more than a slave to sin. Jesus alone can break the bonds of this slavery when the person entrusts their whole being into His hands.
Avoiding near occasion of sin
The Lord tells us how to deal with vices in the Gospel today. The analogy He uses is powerful and straightforward: “If your hand causes you to sin cut it off…better to be maimed then…to be cast into Gehenna…” Of course, Jesus does not literally mean that we should harm ourselves, but we must be willing to surrender our pleasures and behaviors which lead us into vice. The alcoholic should not enter into a bar, which would be a near occasion of sin for him.
In the same way, we must all avoid those near occasions of sin which could lead us into an addiction or continue to build the bad habits that we are trying to change. Today there are some television programs and internet sites that every Christian must avoid since they present values radically contrary to the teachings of our Lord. This is the kind of resolve that Jesus asks for today in the Gospel if we are going to keep the light of faith burning brightly within us.
To be truly set free
Avoiding near occasions of sin means choosing to make the Lord as our God over the vice. This is the freedom we are called to as Christians. Jesus came to liberate those in bondage to sin so that we could freely choose to live in such a way as to lead ourselves and others to eternal life. The Lord does not want us to be held hostage to addictions or vices. Instead He desires us to learn to love as God loves; freely and completely. We who are baptized are called to true freedom. This freedom is begun on earth by responding to grace and avoiding evil. It is fulfilled in the eternal happiness dwelling in union with God and the communion of Saints. Nothing on this earth should keep us away from this destiny. We are created to be free! Truly free!