“EVERYONE WHO LOOKS AT A WOMAN WITH LUST HAS ALREADY COMMITTED ADULTERY WITH HER IN HIS HEART.”

On the Sixth Sunday of Ordinary Time we heard Jesus calling us to a higher standard of His new Law.  One of these was with regards to adultery.  As human beings we naturally notice the people around us, but when does looking at someone become sinful.  On the previous weekend, which was Marriage Sunday, I mentioned a number of very short summaries on different sections of Dr. Sri book entitled “Men, Women, and the Mystery of Love.  Practical Insights from John Paul II’s Love and Responsibility.”  One of the sections is entitled  “The Battle for Purity.”  This section could help us understand the difference between noticing an attractive person and committing adultery in our hearts as Jesus warned against.

 

Another aspect that is often times forgotten, if not looked down upon in our society, that is saturated with lust, is the practice of custody of the eyes.  Many saints have written about this practice.  Since sin originates in the heart it is important that we take appropriate safeguards.  One of these is to not allow images into our minds unnecessarily.  I encourage you to do some research into the practice of “custody of the eyes.”