Word to the Wise
Friday, October 25, 2019 - Friday in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 7:18-25a and Luke 12:54-59]So, then, I discover the principle that when I want to do right, evil is at hand. For I take delight in the law of God, in my inner self, but I see in my members another principle at war with the law of my mind, taking me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans]
St. Paul speaks to the condition of all believers. How do we remain faithful to the way that Christ has set before us when we are continually beset by temptations of all kinds? Temptations speak to our appetites, which are, per se, not bad things but they are subject to a "law" that can take the human person to destruction if they are not curbed by human effort, aided by divine grace. The list of these appetites and their corresponding destructive manifestations is a long one. Sex, drugs, alcohol, diet, gambling, internet entertainment, spending - all of these (and more) a represent opportunities for addiction, which is the result of a failure to discipline the appetites according to Christian principles. This tension between Christian ideals/motivations/intentions and appetites is the eternal battle between good and evil that occurs within each of us as individuals, but also on a collective level when a popular temptation takes control. We see this in the battles over drugs and internet pornography, just to name two.
Once an addiction takes over, it becomes a law unto itself and requires strong effort to be overcome in the name of Christian faith. An addiction robs us of our freedom to choose Christ - a terrible loss. We find it difficult to admit we are addicted and refuse to seek help. When I hear of clearly addictive behavior in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, I ask what the penitent plans on doing about it. Prayer alone will not suffice. Addiction is like any other illness that requires a definite healing effort. Broken bones do not set themselves properly. Professional care is needed. The reluctance I meet when suggesting this is tragic because the individual remains addicted and the Sacrament of Reconciliation, which is aimed at conversion, becomes only the sacrament of "guilt relief."
For those of us who deal every day with milder habits that are still unhealthy, St. Paul reminds us of God's help, but even these "milder" patterns require effort to replace with healthy patterns. The law of reluctance and denial is one of the most dangerous ones. Discipleship begins with individual conversion, and, as the Gospel of St. Luke has reminded us this week, discipleship is costly and requires courage. God will do God's part. We have to do ours. AMEN
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