Reading Jesus’ words in today’s gospel, I feel apprehensive. What might Jesus ask me to pluck out or cut off in my life? What habit, relationship, or mindset is leading me to sin? What if that thing feels as much a part of me as my own arm or eye?

For about ten years, a seemingly innocuous habit routinely led me to sin. It caused me to focus on what others had that I did not, spiraling into self-hatred and baseless judgment of complete strangers. I knew this was happening, so I’d give up the habit for Lent or try to restrict the behavior to only a few minutes a day. But without fail, I’d find myself right back where I started. The habit and the subsequent sin had become such a part of my daily rhythms that cutting it out created a tangible void in my life.

Jesus wanted to fill that void. He invited me to sit in the discomfort of missing that habit long enough to feel his presence. When I tried talking to him when I was tempted to fall into the behavior, he showed me that removing it from my life allowed me to be a fuller version of myself. I noticed after a few weeks that I was sinning less. Several years later, I still miss it sometimes, but I am convinced that the freedom of life without it is worth the sacrifice.

May we each remember Jesus’ promise of freedom to give us the courage to face what he is calling us to cut out today with the hope that he will be in the discomfort alongside us and lead us through it to the holiness he created us for.