Sunday, December 8, 2013

Flesh or Spirit (Romans 8:5-6) - What's Your Choice?

For those who live according to the flesh are concerned with the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the spirit with the things of the spirit. The concern of the flesh is death, but the concern of the spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6)

What saddens me the most in this whole ordeal that proves so disturbing and divisive is that so many of those whom we expect to lead spiritually and “walk by the Spirit”(Gal 5:16) because of God’s special callings for them, would choose flesh over Spirit when faced with the choice. On the other hand, I find much encouragement and consolation in the fact that so many ordinary Catholic faithful in the pews who, having received the grace of the Holy Spirit through baptism, would courageously embrace the lofty mission “to live our moral life in a way worthy of our sublime vocation as ‘sons in the Son’” (JPII, The Splendour of Truth, 18), and choose Spirit over flesh even if it means great personal suffering.

3 comments:

  1. A line from Gandalf from last year's "The Hobbit": Saruman believes that it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I found. I have found in small things, everyday small folks that keep the darkness at bay, simple acts of kindness and love.

    Tony Chow

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  2. Hi, How about run to Immaculate Mother Mary for help. Accordingly that Blessed Mother told Sister Pierina of Montichiari Italy in 1947, that Holy Hour at 12:00 with whole attention to the devotion and pray the Psalm 51, will receive all Grace we ask of her as Advocata nostrae. Theresa

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  3. How can one in his position not be aware that the acts he perpetuates are acts of sin! Sin alienates the sinner from himself whom God has chosen him (the transgressor) to pastor God's own people; from God, he acts "like God", the Creator even though he is merely a creature created in the image of God. He remains a creature.

    2nd Sunday of Advent refers the Pharisees and Sadducees as brood of vipers. I cannot help to think this viper, "the ancient serpent", the father of lies also alludes to the same mastermind of the ordeal who continuously clothe himself behind the Church and think of evil ways to devastate another man who is of the same family of God. May God bless his soul, if he has one!

    Richard

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