Our first reading today from Romans discibes a situation that I can empathise. It has been a problem from Saint Paul’s time and will continue to be a problem till the world comes to an end. The Good Lord knows that I am not perfect and reminds me everytime I fail. The frustrating thing is I don’t start out to fail. Neither does anyone else.
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. From our Baptism we are all basically good people. Something happens.
We start thinking and the I in us becomes more important than God in us.
I remember as a child listening to a Priest talk about “impure thoughts”. It was a long time ago but what he said was this. Thoughts do come into our heads. We can’t stop them. It is not the fact we have them but what we need to do is not “entertain ” them and feed them. It is true for any of the seven deadly sins. Saint Paul’s problem and ours is that we can’t walk away from our Inner self, our thoughts. Saint Paul’s solution is Jesus.
Every year we are asked by our Parish Churches to consider what we do with our time, talent and treasure. The same thing applies to our relationship with Jesus and our inner thoughts. If we spend our time with Jesus we are not thinking of something bad. If we use our talent to glorify Jesus we are not turning to evil. If we use our treasure for good we are not using it to help us sin.
Who will deliver me from this mortal body? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Today is also the optional feast of Saint John Paul II. This is a particularly happy day because I am the grandson of a Polish immagrant. When my wife, Anna, and I went to Krakow Poland we prayed in the same pew that John Paul II prayed at the church across from his residence. There was a silver plack that showed the spot . It was not at the front of the church, but it was at the very back by the confessional . I thought this was a humble spot and that humility carried him forward to become Pope.
My conclusion is this. I am not perfect. Even though I cannot leave my head, I can change my thoughts by focusing on the word and works of the Lord Jesus Christ. Saint John Paul II was not perfect either. In that humble spot in Krakow he changed his thoughts and focused on Jesus.
So can we!
God Love You Always
Bob Burford
Picture credit:“Pope John Paul II holding a koala, Brisbane, 25 November 1986” by Queensland State Archives is marked with CC PDM 1.0
PS: Please continue to pray for all who are suffering from Cancer.
