Do you remember Silas, the
character from the movie and book, The Da Vinci Code? In this story, he
practices what is called corporal
mortification. It is a practice that can take on many forms such as fasting
or denial of pleasure, done as a form discipline, or paying penance for ones
sins. In Silas’ case, he practiced this
in extreme forms, physically abusing himself, as an expression of submission
and discipline.
This is taken from the writings
of Paul when he says things like: “I
beat my body into submission,” or “If you live according to the flesh you will
die,” or the call to “honor God with our bodies.” There has always been a call in
the Church to live a disciplined life throughout history. It isn’t too unlike
what we do during the Lenten season — giving up something that helps remind us
and participate in the suffering of Christ, but when taken literally can lead
to places where Silas found himself. We often find ourselves in bondage to the
very things we are trying to find freedom from.
Thankfully, we know Christ has
made the provision for us, and we receive it, underserving, but recipients
anyway. When you read passages like the following, it’s not difficult to see
how those seeking to look more like Christ could revel in bloody stumps and
blinded eyes.
“If you want to live a morally pure life, here’s what you have to
do: You have to blind your right eye the
moment you catch it in a lustful leer.
You have to choose to live one-eyed or else be dumped on a moral trash
pile. And you have to chop off your right hand the moment you notice it raised
threateningly. Better a bloody stump
than your entire being discarded for good in the dump…And don’t say what you
don’t mean…In making your speech sound more religious, it becomes less
true.” Matthew 5:29-30, 33, 34 (MSG)
It could almost become a marker
for those who are “serious” about their following in the way of Jesus, and one
that puts the rest of us in our place. It’s
why Jesus said their displays when fasting and praying are empty.
Do we really think as we read
these passages that cutting off a hand or poking out an eye can get us to these
places? We don’t have to question
whether the call is serious because of the provocative tone he uses, but God’s
desire for us is that this become a natural outflow of the heart — a heart that
has been changed by the one who created it in the first place. So we can live without an eye or a hand, but
our heart can remain as corrupt as ever.
I don’t think Jesus is near as concerned about killing parts, as much as
he is at renewing hearts. It’s because He knows if we get the heart right; the
“parts” will follow.
“You’re familiar with the command to the ancients, ‘Do not
murder.’ I’m telling you that anyone who
is so much as angry with a brother or sister is guilty of murder. You know the next commandment pretty well,
too: ‘Don’t go to bed with another’s spouse.’ But don’t think you’ve preserved your virtue
simply by staying out of bed. Your heart
can be corrupted by lust even quicker than your body. And don’t say anything
you don’t mean. And here’s another
saying that deserves a second look: ‘Eye
for eye, tooth for tooth.’ Is that going
to get us anywhere? You’re familiar with
the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate
your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies.”
Matthew 5:21, 27, 33a, 38, & 43 (MSG)
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