(Homily
for October 30, 2017).
“If you
live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death
the deeds of the body you will live.” Romans 8:13
To live
according to the flesh is to be ignore God. Living according to the flesh is to
be solely concerned about the gratification of the flesh, pleasure and physical
passions. St. Paul explains in another passage the things associated with
living according to the flesh
“Now the
works of the flesh are plain: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry,
sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party
spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and the like. I warn you, as I warned you
before, that those who do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians
5:19-21.
If any
these things exist in my life, it means I am living according to the flesh and
it is an indication that I would not inherit the kingdom of God. The death St.
Paul talks about in our first reading today is a death to eternal life; death
to the glories of heaven.
Living by
the Spirit is putting to check the flesh and its desires; it is allowing the
commandments of God guide us daily, even more, living by the spirit is not
merely obeying the commandments of God, it is living by the spirit of these
commandments, going beyond the mere letter.
Jesus
condemns the ruler of the synagogue in today’s Gospel passage because of his hypocrisy;
he was simply concerned about the letter of the law of God rather than the
Spirit which is love of God and love for neighbour.
When we
live according to the Spirit, that is only when we can call ourselves children
of Abraham and as children of Abraham Jesus would not allow us suffer. As we
see in our Gospel passage, Jesus was willing to cure a woman who was bent over
for eighteen years even on a Sabbath day because she too was a child of
Abraham.
Let us
Pray: Lord Jesus, help me to conquer my flesh. Amen.
*Be Happy. Live Positive. Have Faith.
It is well with you. God bless you. (Monday of the 30th Week in
Ordinary Time. Bible Study: Romans 8:12-17
and Luke 13:10-17).*
Fr. Abu.
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