Tuesday, February 18, 2020
James 1:12-18, Psalm 94:12-15, 18-19, Mark 8:14-21
Link to Readings --> http://www.usccb.org/bible/readings/021820.cfm
THE HOLY SPIRIT OR TOTALITARIAN DICTATORS?
"The tug and lure of his own passion tempt every man." -James 1:14
Our desires are dangerous because they can conceive and bring forth sin (Jas 1:15). As sin grows, "it begets death" (Jas 1:15). We must control our desires, or we will live a living death (see 1 Jn 3:14).
Naturally, our desires seek to be totalitarian dictators - to dictate every aspect of our lives. Only the Lord, Who created our desires, can redeem them and free us from their determination for dictatorship. The Father through the Son sends the Holy Spirit to strongly fight in opposition to our natural, fallen desires (Gal 5:17). If we live in the Spirit (Gal 5:25) by living our Baptism, we crucify our "flesh with its passions and desires" (Gal 5:24).
Thus, life is either freedom in the Spirit or slavery to desires. "Doing our own thing" is not freedom but thinly disguised slavery. Doing God's thing by the power of the Holy Spirit is a freedom so profound that it frees us even from death and for eternal life.
Do you want true freedom? Then you want to deny yourself (Lk 9:23) and be docile to the Holy Spirit.
Prayer: Father, may I not be deceived into thinking that slavery is freedom.
Promise: "He wills to bring us to birth with a word spoken in truth so that we may be a kind of first fruits of His creatures." -Jas 1:18
Praise: Through the fervent intercession of his friends, Paul was set free from his addiction.
(For a related teaching on "The Spirit, the Flesh, and the Devil, "order, listen to, or download our CD 92A-3 or DVD 92-A on our website.)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Rescript: In accord with the "Code of Canon Law", I hereby grant the "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") for "One Bread, One Body" covering the period from February 1, 2020 through March 31, 2020
?Most Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Auxiliary Bishop, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, July 8, 2019
The "Nihil Obstat" ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the "Nihil Obstat" agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
You can find One Bread, One Body archives, the letter to readers, OBOB eBook edition, and an online donation form at
http://www.presentationministries.com/obob/obob.asp
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright © 2020 Presentation Ministries
To add your e-mail address to this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp
To remove your e-mail address from this list go to
http://www.presentationministries.com/general/emailList.asp?mode=r
No comments:
Post a Comment