After reading today’s scripture passages, I made a mental list of things in my life that have enabled me to sin in big or small ways. I had an extensive list. I was ready to start making concrete plans to cut off all the things that I know cause me to sin; the things that separate me from God. Then I realized one thing; I had not added grief to the list. Yes… grief.

Grief and all its tentacles often leads to the sin of separating ourselves from God. Grief and our desire to seek refuge in that place, often leads to the sin of acting out of anger and fear. Grief prompts us to isolate ourselves from those who love us and find warmth in our sadness and loss. Grief leads us to the sin of holding on to the things that do not let us live; things that steal our breath of life.

I have been taught to lean into grief and show no resistance. I have been taught to allow myself to cry and vent as much as I want until I have had enough of grieving, and then get on with my life. However, grief, I have found, is like salt. Just enough grieving and we come out on the other end feeling much more spiritually flavorsome, but too much grieving, and our soul begins to corrode in small ways. If we are to cut off that which makes us sin, how do we cut off grief? If grieving too long dulls our spiritual salt that gives us our uniquely beautiful flavor, how do we let go? If grieving allows us to heal and move forward, at what point would I consider it be fair to let it go?

Today’s gospel makes it seem so easy to just cut something off when it causes us to sin. But it isn’t easy, is it? Removing the things in our life that separate us from the unconditional love of God should be easy, and yet, we hold on to our vices, our hurts, our frustrations, our grudges, and our fears. I have not figured out why my first instinct is usually to hide in my grief rather than run to Jesus, who is the healer of wounded souls. But one thing I do know is that it takes courage to grieve well. It takes courage to let go of that which separates us from God. It takes courage to retain our spiritual flavor that allows us to live in peace with ourselves and others. It takes courage to allow ourselves to be poor in spirit by giving up all the things that prevent us from experiencing God’s love and peace in our lives. It takes courage to offer no resistance when the opportunity arises to let go.

Merciful and loving God, grant us the courage to let go of all that prevents us from completely loving God, self, and others. Amen.