Comments on: Wednesday, 11/4/20 – Love and Hate? In a Way, Yes . . .

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 16:02:03 +0000

Thanks Steven for an insightful message. Yes, Helen, I’m with you on that…put God above everything else. Our ultimate goal is to have eternal life in heaven. So, if anyone or anything keeps us away from that…we should cut them off or at least always keep our eye focused on our goal! God bless us all.

By: Helen

Helen — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 15:21:14 +0000

Thanks for this insightful reflection Stephen,much appreciated.
I always found the words of this gospel so harsh and found it difficult to reconcile it with a loving Jesus.The moral that I take away from it is to put God first above all else,even if it means that sometimes you have to make difficult decisions that might offend others.It’s not always easy to follow Christ.The rewards are great if we chose to do so.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 12:48:41 +0000

For God is the one who, for his good purpose and plans, works in you and through you. Do everything he asks you to do, without grumbling or questioning.” When our friendship with Jesus is truly our highest priority – not just when it’s convenient or feels good, but all the time – our trust in him is perfected and we follow him wherever he goes, without questioning his purposes or complaining about his plans.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 12:11:53 +0000

Thanks Steven for clearing up a little bit of confusion. I could never understand Jesus telling me to hate my family, cut off my hand and gouge my eye out. Thanks for the explanation and reflection. Always looking to heaven to keep me on track. Blessings.

By: David G

David G — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 11:19:55 +0000

“For example, Jesus tells us (in Matthew 5:29-30) to cut off our hands or pluck out our eyes if they cause us to sin. I can’t believe Jesus meant that literally”
Steven, I have always taken this quite literally and although I sin, I have never cut off my hand nor plucked out my eye.
However, what I understand Jesus to have meant is that if one of these is causing us to sin repeatedly and without being able to stop and consequently moving ourselves further and further from God then it would better to have lost an eye or a hand as opposed to losing eternal salvation.
And although that has always been my interpretation and I continue to sin, I still firmly believe that Gods love will save me.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 03:14:21 +0000

Thanks Steven for the powerful message. Be blessed.

By: Jen

Jen — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 01:08:49 +0000

Very insightful!

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Wed, 04 Nov 2020 00:58:11 +0000

Some of the things Jesus has said totally bewilder me… as in today’s readings. Thanks for the clarification!