Week 7 Thursday – Sirach 5:1-8; Mark 9:41-50

In our Catholic journey, we often speak of our relationship with Christ as the cornerstone of our faith. Yet this relationship demands both tenderness and truth. The Church, in her wisdom, teaches us that authentic faith requires more than emotional comfort—it calls for genuine conversion and steadfast commitment to God’s commandments.

When we approach the confessional or kneel before the Blessed Sacrament, we experience the profound sweetness of God’s mercy. This is a gift to be cherished. However, as Saint Augustine reminds us, true love of God necessarily involves conforming our lives to His divine will. Our Lord Jesus Christ speaks clearly in the Gospel about the radical nature of discipleship: “If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out” (Matthew 5:29). This isn’t mere metaphor—it’s a call to serious spiritual combat.

Today, let us examine our conscience with courage and clarity. Are we allowing the comforts of contemporary life to compromise our Catholic values? Are we making the hard choices necessary for holiness? The saints show us that authentic love for Christ often requires sacrifice. Through the intercession of Our Lady, may we find the strength to embrace both the consolations and challenges of our faith, always seeking the narrow path that leads to eternal life.