Today’s second reading encourages us to expose that what Is hidden or bring it to light. Eventually, all will be brought to the Light. Like the Prophets, if I don’t speak out on sin, I am held personally responsible. Why? Because failing to speak out could prevent conversion. Souls could be lost.
In another part of Scripture, Jesus says that “if someone hurts one of these little ones, it would be better for that person to thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his/her neck, than to cause one of these little ones to stumble” (Luke: 17:2). That Gospel is chilling. When Jesus say’s, “little ones,” He refers to innocent people as well as children. Jesus says it would be better for that person if he/she were cast into the sea with a millstone about his/her neck! Children are beautiful and there is an innocent purity about them that Jesus wants us to protect.
Well, I hate to talk about it because it is devastating but scandal in the priesthood is an example of this in the worst way. It is evil. Clergy should know better than anyone! Some people are addicted to vice but that’s no excuse. They should get help. We should work for justice for children that have been abused by clergy. It is not only physical, but even worse, psychologically and emotionally devastating.
Another devastating sin is abortion. Millions of infants are killed each year. I believe some men and women don’t know what they’re doing and need financial help. They don’t want to go through pregnancy and adopt. Some don’t think the fetus is a life. It has brain waves at five weeks, but this is irrelevant. The moment It has a soul it is a life and that moment is conception. We need to trust in God’s mercy which is infinite for those who have had abortions and are later sorry. Still, we need to defend the innocent and do what we can to change things.
Finally, a grave danger to children, young women and men is pornography. Pornography is an addiction that a lot of folks struggle with, mostly men, but a lot of times they don’t want the addiction. Still, no excuse. They should get help like any other addiction. Pornography indirectly supports human trafficking which is psychological torture for the victims! Often, they view themselves as subhuman because of the sexual abuse. Although the body is a sacred temple, we need to see primarily, the beauty of the soul. The body and sex, though intrinsically good, should not become false gods.
Well, in a deeper sense, all sin scandalizes children because we are examples. So maybe we’re all a little guilty. I think what Jesus is saying is that even worse than a physical millstone is a spiritual millstone. The guilt someone feels either in this life or the next is heavier than physical death. It is crushing to the spirit. When we hurt an innocent life or fail to defend them, we suffer the consequences. Let us than do what we can to fight for justice in a peaceful way but also pray for those who are in danger of wearing an eternal, spiritual millstone.