FRIDAY OF THE 10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 5:27-32) - THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

“But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Mt 5:28)

FIRST READING - 4:7-15

A reading from the Second Letter of St. Paul to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters:

We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,

that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.

We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;

perplexed, but not driven to despair;

persecuted, but not abandoned;

struck down, but not destroyed;

always carrying about in the Body the dying of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.

For we who live are constantly being given up to death

for the sake of Jesus,

so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death is at work in us, but life in you.

Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith,

according to what is written, ""I believed, therefore I spoke,""

we too believe and therefore speak,

knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus

will raise us also with Jesus

and place us with you in his presence.

Everything indeed is for you,

so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people

may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God.

GOSPEL OF THE DAY - 5:27-32

From the Gospel according to Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples:

"You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery.

But I say to you,

everyone who looks at a woman with lust

has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

If your right eye causes you to sin,

tear it out and throw it away.

It is better for you to lose one of your members

than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna.

And if your right hand causes you to sin,

cut it off and throw it away.

It is better for you to lose one of your members

than to have your whole body go into Gehenna.

"It was also said,

Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce.

But I say to you,

whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful)

causes her to commit adultery,

and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery."

FRIDAY OF THE 10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME - Gospel (Matthew 5:27-32)

THE WORD OF GOD FOR EVERYONE

Dear People of God,

The Word of God for today, God the Father, teaches us how to live in order to become better and more perfect before Him.

God the Father calls us to remember His words and put them into practice, demonstrating them in our daily lives, especially when facing Satan's temptations. Satan will bring up subtle schemes we cannot recognize, causing us to stumble and displease God the Father.

The words of God the Father teach people today that we must be alert to Satan’s passions and desires and keep our bodies and souls free from all stains of sin and every desire from our thoughts and hearts. God the Father reveals that every evil thought from the heart leads to actions.

To God the Father, all sin is a temptation from Satan when people do not know how to eliminate or resist the temptations in our thoughts.

God the Father calls on people to ask for the power of the Holy Spirit so we may remain awake and alert to Satan’s subtle temptations and resist them within our minds. God the Father does not want people to fall into Satan's trap, which is to deceive us into thinking that sin only occurs through action. But no! Today’s Word of God teaches clearly that sin begins in the thoughts. If people do not resist the temptations of passion and desire from within, these thoughts will eventually lead to actions that displease God the Father.

God the Father calls on people today to be awake. Ask for the grace of discernment. Ask for the strength to overcome Satan’s temptations and the desires that begin in the mind. Always live in close union with God the Father. Stay by His side, listen to Him, and carry out the commands He teaches. Then, our bodies and souls will become pure, chastity, and beautiful before God the Father.

That is the love of a Father for all humanity, revealed through the teachings of Jesus Christ for the people of today’s world:

• Eliminate sinful behaviors. Do not indulge in the temptations of Satan’s fleshly passions any longer.

• Resist Satan by obeying the will of God the Father at all times and in all places. Fear Him and love Him according to the example of His Only Begotten Son, Jesus Christ.

Thanks be to God. Amen.