St. Mark’s gospel reminds us that causing harm to “the little ones” has been there from the beginning. It was horrible then and it is horrible now. Jesus admonition to “cut off” the offending limb or “pluck out” the offending eye made me think of what we used to call “the near occasions of sin.” We need to cut off and pluck out of our lives those things which are not helpful to our spiritual life. Often these are not bad things — for example, watching TV shows or playing on the internet. But we should be ruthless in eliminating those activities which are keeping us from a closer relationship with God. As we are approaching Lent, what does God want you to be “fasting” from?
