The Gospel of Matthew, chapter 5:29-30

Why would the Lord recommend that we mutilate our bodies which we should respect as precious gifts of God? Are not our bodies temples of the Holy Spirit[1 Corinthians 6:19-20]. Why does He tell us in chapter five of St. Matthews’ gospel to tear out your right eye, if it causes you to sin, and throw it away?

It is obvious that Jesus is asking us to pluck out, not our right eye, but that part of our psychological being that is preventing us from entering into his kingdom? He wants us to free ourselves from spiritual blindness that keeps us in the dark; that prevents us from seeing the light.

The eye is the lamp of the body, but if it is in darkness, it will not let the light in. All knowledge, according to Aristotle, comes through the senses. The sense of sight is a wonderful gift, but it must be used creatively and wisely. There is sight and sight; there is physical sight and there is spiritual sight. The lusting eye that excites depraved cravings within the heart; the ugly mind that reaches out for what it does not own; must be plucked out or cut off if love is to be born.

People in Jesus’ day did not appreciate the wonders He was doing. He said: “they have eyes but they see not.” Many today go through life like blind people or with blinkers on; they see what they want to see and they don’t see or open themselves up to what they should see. They see the bad in others and they refuse to see that their blindness or harsh judgement derive from their bad attitudes. They will not know the truth unless they pluck out the spiritual blindness from within that prevents them from seeing themselves and others as they truly are. Then, will their eyes be open; then will they see. It is so easy when you are spiritually blind to “see the speck in your brother’s eye, and ignore the boulder in your own eye.” [Matthew 7:3]

The Lord has given us the gift of sight to be used for our benefit; to observe and analyse the works of His creation; to read His word in the scriptures. This is a wonderful gift, this gift of physical sight, but it must be accompanied by spiritual sight or understanding if we want to see and understand. Meditation on the Scriptures, and openness to the Holy Spirit, the spirit of truth, will help us see spiritually, to penetrate beyond the surface of things, and enter into the world of awareness, meaning, and love.

This gift of spiritual insight is an awesome gift. Cultivate it in your life, and use it well.

Fr. Hugh Duffy