The willing is ready at hand, but doing the good is not. For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want. Miserable one that I am! Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 7:18b-19, 24-25a)
Jesus said to the crowds: “You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?” (Luke 12:56)
Piety
I am yours; save me,
for I have sought your precepts.
(Psalm 119:94)
Study
One of my very favorite prayers is the Anima Christi prayer. The first two phrases came to mind as I was thinking about Paul’s words in today’s first reading: “Soul of Christ, sanctify me. Body of Christ, save me.” Interesting that in one breath we ask to be made holy and in the very next, we pray to be saved from ourselves and our sinfulness.
The apostle found it utterly frustrating that even when he had the best of intentions and wanted nothing more than to do good, he often discovered himself doing the very thing he didn’t want to do. Sin has a firm grip on us and will not let us go. If you have any objectivity about yourself, you know there are no truer words than those Paul writes to the Christians in Rome.
If you read the writings of the saints, people who led exemplary lives, there is a common theme. The holier the person, the greater the awareness sin’s hold on us.
So, why doesn’t Paul just throw in the towel? He ends today’s passage by saying that God, through his Son, can deliver him, and for that he is very grateful. As long as we are in this world, though, this tug of war between the good we want to do and what we actually end up doing will be part and parcel of our human situation.
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is talking rather angrily to the crowds. They are so good at forecasting the weather, he says. All they have to do is look at the color of the sky or the type of clouds as well as the direction of the breeze, and they can fairly accurately predict the next day’s weather.
So why can’t the people look around and interpret the signs of the times? Here before them is the Son of God walking, talking, healing and forgiving right in their midst, yet they are clueless.
Action
If I had to pick a common theme for today’s Scripture readings, it would be awareness. Be cognizant of the spiritual tug of war going on inside you. The evil spirit delights in thwarting your good intentions by separating you from God and luring you toward thoughts or actions that are anything but holy.
Be aware as well that God is still in our midst. Yes, there are many problems in our country and throughout the world, and they tend to be what makes the news. But God is most definitely still with us. Prayers are answered. Healing takes place. Sins are forgiven. Good people volunteer their services at DC Central Kitchen and other similar organizations to feed the hungry. My parish is still building homes in Haiti. Your parishes are involved in other outreach projects.
Cursillistas are still busy making friends, being friends, and bringing these friends to Christ. You could support the 135th Men’s Weekend, underway as you are reading this, with your prayers and/or your presence (at Mañanita or the Closing, see http://www.arlingtoncursillo.org/135th-mens-weekend/ for details and directions).
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