LENT WEEK 2: DAY 8

Romans 7:14-25; Romans 8:5-9; Galatians 6:8; Galatians 5:24.
“Do not be surprised brothers if the world hates us” (John 3:13). This is not for everyone but for those who have made themselves friends of Jesus. It is not applicable to those who have chosen to befriend the world. Yesterday, we looked at the incompatibility of the love of God and that of the world and we saw how important it is to separate ourselves from the love of the love and its seductions. Today, we want to look at a bigger enemy who we can neither avoid nor distance ourselves from. This is a lifetime enemy whose presence we will have to accommodate till we die. This enemy is called the flesh. There is a constant battle going on in every human person between the flesh and the spirit. Both are components that make-up who you are and cannot exist without the other except when death steps in. Although inseparable, they are at war against each other and they keep you from doing what you will (Galatians 5:17). The battle is real and everyone must choose on whose side they are but you must remember that the essential is to save your soul. The law of the spirit brings life while that of the flesh brings death (Romans 8:5-6). This is so because in the flesh lies the sinful passions which not only produce in our bodies the fruit of death (Romans 7:5) but also wage war against our soul (1 Peter 2:11). The flesh is therefore a huge enemy of your soul and battles hard to pollute the soul with his sinful desires and pleasures. Living according to the flesh is inviting and embracing death and the only way to live is by putting to death the deeds of the body and walking by the spirit (Romans 8:12-13). St Paul laments when he sees how the flesh takes him off the path he wants to trod and is leading him to hell. He realizes that his efforts are fruitless and cries out for help (Romans 7:14-25). Jesus himself will acknowledge this battle when he affirms after seeing the apostles struggling between sleeping and keeping watch that, the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak (Matthew 26:41). We too must take this battle and refuse to be led by the will of the flesh (Romans 13:14) because what the flesh seeks is against God and cannot submit to the law of God (Romans 8:7). We who want to seek and do the will of God must stand up against the works of the flesh and submit to the law of God. We must remember that being a Christian and belonging to Christ is all about crucifying the flesh with its vices and desires (Galatians 5:24). Failing to do so and consenting to the flesh is going straight to the judgment (Ephesians 2:3) and condemnation. We are called to resist the flesh and its desires to give way to the spirit and its fruits. The outcome is clear for all, everyone will reap what they sow. Those who sow in the flesh will reap death while those who sow in the spirit will reap life (Galatians 6:8). The battle line is drawn and we all must choose on which side we belong, either on the side of the flesh or that of the spirit but I advise you to choose life. Choosing life in the spirit is choosing the best of both lives, here and in the world to come. Beware of the deception and weaknesses of the flesh. May our Good Lord help us to crucify the flesh and its passions and fix our eyes on him. Keep the battle going.

In Corda Matris.

Resolutions

I resolve to abandon the ways of the flesh and follow that of the spirit.
I resolve to submit my flesh and put it under control.
I resolve to live my life in the spirit.
I resolve to surrender to God.

Prayer

I come to you this day my Lord, weighed down by the burden of my weaknesses and crushing under burned of the desires of my flesh and I pray you to look upon me with eyes of mercy. Help me to be strong and resist the desires of the flesh, give me the grace to keep pushing forward and building my spiritual life. Show me the way I need to go and lead me along the right path. Send your holy Angels to accompany me on this journey and to guide me as I walk along. 

Amen.