Word to the Wise
Friday, October 22, 2021 - Thursday in the 29th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 6:19-23 and Luke 12:49-53]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]
This passage from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans is one of the most poignant and personal statements about himself in all his writings. A comparable passage might be found in 2 Corinthians 12:10 when he says, "It is when I am weak that I am strong." But in Romans, we see our own struggles at work in St. Paul!
When St. Paul speaks of the difference between flesh and spirit, he is referring to the whole person who is at one and the same time saved by Christ but still prone to commit evil. In the sacrament of reconciliation, I sometimes tell the penitent, "You're a saint now, go in peace!" This brings a smile from the penitent, but also a knowledge that faith does not remove temptation and sin from our lives but motivates us to avoid them as much as possible, relying on the mercy of God. Perhaps this dichotomy is felt most intensely by those who have become addicted and are losing hope. The well-known "higher power" in the 12 step process is part of the initial path to recovery. Sometimes it is difficult to get addicted people who are believers to take the additional step of getting professional help.
At least, today, we can realize that most of us are in good company with St. Paul as we struggle to be faithful to the call of Christ. AMEN