Learning to Love
Like Jesus Loves
Picture Jesus sitting with His disciples, knowing full well that half of them are probably thinking, "Great, we've got the adultery thing covered - check that box!" Then He delivers what might be history's most uncomfortable mic drop: "But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart." You can almost hear the collective gulp. Suddenly, the Pharisees aren't the only ones with a problem! Jesus isn't being harsh here - He's being a brilliant physician, diagnosing the real disease. The issue isn't just our actions; it's the condition of our hearts. And here's the beautiful truth: Jesus never diagnoses what He can't heal.
What's fascinating is how Jesus connects our inner life to our relationships with others. When we look at someone with lust, we're essentially saying, "You exist for my pleasure," which is the opposite of love. Love says, "I exist for your good." This isn't Jesus trying to make us feel guilty about being human - it's Jesus inviting us into His way of seeing people. Imagine if we could look at every person we meet and see what Jesus sees: a beloved child of the Father, created for eternal joy, deserving of respect and dignity. That attractive person at work? They're not eye candy - they're a walking miracle with hopes, dreams, and an immortal soul. When we start seeing people this way, everything changes. Our relationships become deeper, our marriages stronger, and our celibacy more joyful.
The Catholic understanding of this passage is like a masterclass in human dignity and divine mercy. The Church teaches that our sexuality is a gift from God, not something to be ashamed of, but something so beautiful and powerful that it deserves reverence. When Jesus talks about cutting off hands or plucking out eyes, He's using dramatic language to say, "This matters so much that you should be willing to do whatever it takes to protect it." It's like having a priceless piece of art - you don't leave it lying around where it might get damaged! Our purity isn't about following arbitrary rules; it's about honoring the masterpiece that God has made us to be. And when we fail (because we will), the Sacrament of Reconciliation isn't Plan B - it's part of God's Plan A for getting us back on track.
Following Jesus in purity is one of the most counter-cultural things we can do in today's world, and that's exactly what makes it so powerful as evangelization. When people see Catholics living with genuine respect for sexuality, treating marriage as sacred and celibacy as beautiful, they're getting a glimpse of the Kingdom of God. It's not about being perfect - it's about being transformed. Every time we choose to see others as Jesus sees them, we're proclaiming the Gospel without saying a word. We're showing the world that there's a better way to love, a more satisfying way to live, and a God who thinks human dignity is worth dying for. This is the adventure Jesus calls us to: learning to love like He loves, stumble by stumble, grace by grace, until our hearts beat in rhythm with His Sacred Heart.
©2025 James Dacey Jr.
