Friday 23rd October – Friday of week 29 of the year

DO NOT GIVE UP ON THY SELF

Romans 7: 18-25

One of the greatest tragedies of faith is for any Christian to give up on him or herself. To surrender to our human weaknesses and quit striving in the salvation struggle is to relinquish oneself as prey to Satan. God never gives up on any one (Ephesian 2:4); we are the only ones that can shut the door of mercy on ourselves through unbelief. That was the tragedy of Judas’ faith.
Beloved in the Lord, is your lamentation similar to that of St. Paul in today’s first reading? “… for though the will to do what is good is in me, the performance is not, with the result that instead of doing the good things I want to do, I carry out the sinful thing I do not want” (Romans 7: 21-23). Let us not be discouraged; the manifestation of our human weakness should promote humility of heart and spur us to greater dependence on God.

By humility of heart, I mean three things. Firstly, our weaknesses teach us that none of us is yet perfect (Romans 3: 23), though we have been converted to Christ, our salvation is a journey which we must daily work out (Philippians 2:12). Secondly, we are reminded of our need to daily quest and depend more on the grace of God (2 Corinthians 12:9; 1 Samuel 2:9). Thirdly, our weakness should teach us to accommodate the imperfections of others having come to see the short comings in ourselves.

Dearest in Christ, let us not get wearied on the journey of faith; let us persevere in good work. Faithful is He that has called us (1 Thessalonian 5: 24) and He is able to safeguard the souls that have been committed to him to the glorious appearance of the saints in heaven (1 Timothy 1:12).

Prayer: Thank you father for your great love and mercy over my life. Please help me never to be discouraged by my shortcomings but that I may be committed to greater seek and serve you. Amen.

KNOW YOUR FAITH: CCC 679 – The father has given “all judgement to the Son.” Yet the Son did not come to judge, but to save and to give the life he has in himself. By rejecting grace, one already judges oneself, receives according to ones’ works, and can even condemn oneself for all eternity by rejecting the Spirit of love. 

HIDE A TREASURE: “My grace is all you need, for my power is greatest when you are weak” 2 Corinthians 12:9 GNB

Today’s Readings: Romans 7: 18-25; Psalms 119: 66, 68, 76-77, 93-94; Luke 12: 54-59