What Are You Looking At?

What if your holiness were as easy as watching what you see, hear, and speak? Today on the Good Friday Sister podcast, we kick off a new, important five-week series: Guard Your Senses. Why does this matter? Because our senses are gateways to our heart and mind, and when we are vigilant, we transform our lives and become the saints we are called to be. In today’s episode, Laura talks about taking custody of the eyes. From Eve in the Garden of Eden to our modern obsession with screens and social media, we’ll examine how temptation can begin with something as simple as a glance, and how an unchecked gaze can lead to eternal consequences. The good news? We may not be able to control everything that catches our eyes, but we can learn some tricks to help maintain boundaries and turn our attention toward what is good, true, and beautiful. Grab a notebook and pen…this is an episode you’ll want to remember. **Key Takeaways.** Guarding the senses is deeply rooted in biblical teachings. The word “custody” comes from a Latin word, “custos”, which means “guardian”. The temptation in the Garden of Eden followed a recognizable pattern: thought → imagination → delight → evil motion → consent. **Practical challenge:** Try a three-day “Visual Fast.” Identify one visual source that drains your peace and replace it with something that brings peace, beauty, gratitude, or life. **Key Scripture.** **Matthew 6:22-23:** The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. **Matthew 5:29:** If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and throw it away; it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. **Genesis 3:1-7**: Fall of Man **Proverbs 4:25:** Let your eyes look straight ahead, and your gaze be focused right before you. **1 John 2:16:** For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. **Psalm 119:37:** Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in your ways. **Resources & Links Mentioned:** *St. Josemaría Escrivá*, The Way *St. Francis de Sales,* on the senses as windows through which light or darkness enters. *Thomas à Kempis*, Imitation of Christ *Bird Box* (2018 film) *Every Man’s Battle* **Want to stay in the know?** Subscribe to Good Friday Sister on your favorite podcast platform. **Want to support Good Friday Sister?** *Subscribe to Laura’s Substack*. Paid subscribers receive access to exclusive bonus episodes. **Want to invite Laura to speak at your event?** Head on over to her website. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit phelpslauramary.substack.com/subscribe