It may be better to reflect how to be a good example than thinking how to avoid scandal. It is more meaningful to make our faculties fruitful than removing them. Cutting off the hands and tearing out the eyes may be understood in terms of what Jesus said about the pruning of the branches of the vine. Pruning is done to produce more fruits.
We may be poisoned or illusioned when there is no right direction, no life in depth, no light of vision. The remedy is to strengthen the withered hands, walk in the right path, make the eyes see clearly, and ears hear well, that the sight and hearing may be sure doors for grace.
It is not the faculties that to be cut off, but it is by the proper functioning of our faculties will surely cut off whatever is not proper to our life. Our vision and hearing are distorted by many sources. There is abundant number of alternatives for physical, emotional and religious fitness. All are convincing, attractive, and wonderful. Which is in fact good for health?
There are many alternative religious movements that have great influence among the practicing religious people. They distort faith for their own commercial or political motives in the very name of God and religion. Such populist trends are spread mostly by our own preachers who are not watchful or alert. The hearers are left with withered hands and impaired vision and hearing.
The standard to judge is again in the image of the vine and the branches. If anyone abides not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered. Abiding is not a religious affinity, but a personal belonging to Jesus having his mind in ourselves. Abiding ensures life, not withering. Do the commercialised faith and devotions take us to the life that Jesus offered to us? Does the politicised Christianity create an atmosphere to live the values of the kingdom or do they create a nationalism in the name of Jesus and Christianity, even through visions from Mary and Jesus?
The very moment we feel that we are losing sight of Jesus, we must cut off the sight that is mesmerising us.
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