6.12.14

Lectio:   Mt 5.27-32                                                                 
                     
Meditatio: “But I [Jesus] say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery in his heart.” Mt 5. 29                                                    

Oratio: O God, You want all to live in right relationships.

I remember Jesus told His disciples that to look upon a woman with lust is to commit adultery with her in his heart. It is a hard saying as men are naturally attracted to a beautiful woman. But that attraction can be, it not controlled, arouse the animal instincts in us. It need not be if when we see a beautiful woman ( or a woman sees a handsome man)  to say to oneself ‘Praise the Lord for the beauty of His creation’; and the source of a potential temptation becomes a source of grace for us. Pray that you will be able to appreciate rightly the beauty of God’s creation.

Contemplatio: spend some time in silence and meditate on the selected passage and hear what
God is saying to you.

Operatio: reflect: "lust...adultery”; adultery lies in the motive and is actuated in the heart; in prayer seek a pure heart so that your thoughts and deeds will always be pleasing to the Lord and be sure to praise the Lord for the beauty of His creation.

Tomorrow's reading: Mt 5.33-37