My mother received great pleasure from reading recipes for a variety of types of foods and desserts.   Her sources included recipes that were printed in the newspaper or magazines or cookbooks or a note from a friend.  Many times she would read the recipe out loud to my brother and sisters and me and exclaim how that particular combination sounded delicious.  My mother was a good cook, yet my siblings and I quickly caught on that she was enjoying thinking about the food, but had no plans to prepare these dishes she was reading about.  We would be a bit disappointed but learned to accept her recipe reading hobby.

As I first read today’s readings from James with a warning to the rich and from Mark about the temptations to sin, I felt a bit overwhelmed and somewhat confused about what God wants me to hear.  Then my mother’s recipe reading hobby came to mind and I found that to be a good frame for praying with the readings.

My mother read the recipes for inspiration.  In a similar way, Jesus is not asking us to literally cut off our foot or hand or pluck out an eye, but rather calling us to be attentive to what in our lives is getting in the way of orienting our lives to God.  We can become so entrenched in our bad habits and inconsiderate ways, that our sins become our defining qualities.  Inspired by my mother’s fun-spirited way to look for new perspectives on familiar foods, Jesus is asking us to examine our thoughts, words and actions and look for ways to turn away from the temptations of sin.  We have the opportunity to live a life grounded in God’s love.

The delicious recipes my mother would read to us can be see as the worldly wealth that James warns us about…. as temporary and arbitrary.  Focusing solely on acquiring wealth at all cost always comes at the expense of someone else.  Had my mother focused on preparing all of the recipes she enjoyed reading, our family would have paid a price in a variety of forms of gluttony.   Rather, she made sure we had good, nutritious food while giving plenty of time and energy to focus on being engaged members of our parish, our community, our school and our extended family and network of friends.

As I pray today I ask for God to show me ways I can offer a drink of water to someone who thirsts.  I ask for clarity on the attachments I may feel for earthly wealth.  I wonder how I can identify and set aside the habits that prevent me from living the Gospel.  These answers are the delicious recipe I am looking for.