6th Sunday - homily

One summer, my brother got kicked out of our house. He was 19, I was 14. One day I called him and said, “how ya doing?” He replied, “I need food. Can you bring me some food?” I said sure, but then we wondered how I would do that. He was staying at a friend’s house about 20 minutes away. The next thing we know, we’re talking about me driving there. The car was in the driveway, the keys were right there, and I was home by myself all day. I said, “ok”. So, I got into the car and drove for the first time; two years before I got my license! It was a nerve-racking experience. I had to get on the Washington Beltway which freaked me out. And, there was one guy following me the whole way. I was convinced he was an under-cover cop. When, I finally got to my brother’s place, I handed him the food and said, “I’m not doing that again”. But, then I would drive a few more times before I got my license…!


I didn’t have a license to drive. Yet, I thought I had license to do whatever I wanted. God gives us freedom, not license. The “wisdom of this age”, as St Paul puts it in the second reading, says that we have license. But, the first reading says that God gives no one license to sin. I didn’t have a license to drive. We don’t have a license to sin. Many who come to college are like me driving at 14. I had the car right there for the taking; in college, there is so much there for the taking – alcohol, drugs, sex, cheating, and all the stuff on the internet. Parents are not around. When the thought and tempatation to do these things hits, the heart starts beating faster and it gets fun and exciting. But, we don’t have license to do any of these things.

Specifically, we don’t have license to view pornography. Guys, Jesus says in today’s Gospel that if we look at a woman with lust, we commit adultery in our hearts. And, he also says that we can go to Hell for it. We can go to Hell for masturbation, too. These are serious sins. Pornography and masturbation are the most confessed sins that priests hear (in Confession). It’s a big problem in the world. It’s a big problem in the Church. When he says that it’s better to tear out our eye or cut off our right hand if they cause us to sin than to go to Hell for the sin, He doesn’t mean literally to do this. He is saying that this is serious business. These are serious sins. There are serious consequences. Jesus is saying that we should do anything to avoid offending God. We should do whatever it takes to avoid serious sin. Whatever it takes.

How do avoid serious sin, especially sexual sin? How do we avoid the slavery to sin, as Scripture calls it? How do we live in freedom? How do we live the Commandments? When we live the Commandments, we live in freedom. Freedom is the ability to choose the good. It allows us to live as we truly want to live and be the people we really want to be…the people God created us to be. How do we live the freedom of chastity? Here are some suggestions.

Make a frequent Confession. Once a month is ideal, or whenever we commit serious sin. I am open for Confessions 24/7.

Receive the Eucharist frequently. We have daily Mass in the Church! We have 12 noon Mass at the Newman Center Monday through Friday.

Pray every day, especially the rosary. Mary is a powerful intercessor, especially with the virtue of chastity! We have rosary brochures here tonight.

Guard your eyes. Have what’s called “custody of the eyes”. We have to be careful what images we bring into our minds because our minds are like DVRs – they can play back images over and over…especially at times when we least expect them and are least prepared for them. We have to have control over the images we bring into our minds.

If the internet is an occasion of sin (which it is for many people), then say a prayer before you log in. Have some good images around the computer : pictures of Jesus, Mary, the saints . We have some cards here tonight and can order more for you at the Newman Center.

When impure thoughts or impulses hit, just let him go. We all get impure thoughts from time to time. Just let them go as fast as they came in. Then, they are not ours…they are not sins. Scripture says, “resist the devil and the devil will flee” (St. James).

Use reason to control your desires. The Church teaches that reason can control our desires, even our sexual desire which is the strongest. When tempted to fantasize or pursue impure thoughts or acts, tell yourself repeatedly things like, “get real” or “I’ll never be with her or with him” or “this doesn’t make me happy”. Write them down if you have to. Say or read them a few times each day. This does work. It takes a lot of work, but reason can tell our desire, “no, not right now”.

I want to close with an example of this. There are many people, including GW Catholics, who are now living the freedom of chastity because of these and other techniques that the Church recommends. Shortly after I was ordained, a woman came to me for Confession. She confessed the sin that she’d been confessing for 30 years. I gave her the same suggestions and techniques that I’ve just given you. She said, “I’ve never heard this before”. Well, things changed. She hasn’t committed the sin since then. It’s been over 4 years. It’s normally not that immediate, but it can happen. What God gave her (and what she was open to receiving) is what He intends for us: freedom. I have seen dramatic changes in her life since that Confession. She has gone from anxiety to peace…from sadness to joy…from slavery to freedom. God intends this for all of us. God intends for each one of us to live in freedom, especially the freedom of chastity.