Peace of Mind

For those who live according to the flesh
are concerned with the things of the flesh,
but those who live according to the spirit
with the things of the spirit. 
The concern of the flesh is death,
but the concern of the spirit is life and peace.

Rms.8:5,6

Saint Paul clarifies the battleground between flesh and spirit within all of us.  It is the battle for the death or life of my soul.

It could be said that this battle for the soul only makes sense when viewed with an eternal perspective. After all, fleshly life looks pretty good at times.  But at the times I have succumbed to my fleshly desires I have noticed any satisfaction is at best only fleeting.  Toys get lost or broken.  The batteries eventually go flat.  The extra glass of wine leaves a headache.

When I successfully deny my flesh and embrace my spiritual life, such as getting out of a warm bed for prayer time this morning, I experience that life and peace about which Saint Paul writes.  

DC Talk say it well in their song "Mind's Eye";

You'll never find peace of mind in your pool of self

You'll never find peace of mind in a sea of wealth

You'll never find peace of mind in your rock and roll

You'll never find peace of mind if you sell your soul 

You gotta like it, you gotta love it

I know you need some freedom from the strife

You gotta like it, you gotta love it

I know you need some Jesus in your life

Today I seek peace of mind in Jesus in my life.

Thank you Jesus for the life and peace you give me.  I place my trust in You.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

Temptation

1Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked,  Nor stand in the way of sinners, nor sit in company with scoffers. Rather, the law of the LORD is his joy; and on his law he meditates day and night.

Ps.1:1,2

The psalmist describes how we fall into sin;  we walk along side, we stand, we sit.  The causal dalliance ends up with deliberate wallowing.

Just recently I was giving advice to a young man who was struggling with a relationship with a girl that he knew was going nowhere.  I advised him not to tempt his temptation, as the temptation always wins.  This comes from my own experience.

The psalm gives the antidote to drifting into sin. God's Law.  Joy comes from meditating on it.  I'm experiencing that joy right now as I meditate on today's psalm.  God always presents a way out from sin's temptation.  I just have to grab it.

Thank you Father in heaven, that you lead me not into temptation, but deliver me from evil.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

A Slave to What?

But thanks be to God that, although you were once slaves of sin,
you have become obedient from the heart
to the pattern of teaching to which you were entrusted.
Freed from sin, you have become slaves of righteousness.

Rms.6:17,18

Saint Paul is writing to the fledgling church in Rome about an age old problem; sexual sin.  He entreats the Roman believers to to use their bodies not for wickedness but for righteousness.  Paul explains that we become slaves to either to sin, leading to death, or obedience leading to righteousness.

The question is not whether we are slaves or not but what are we slaves to? How I use my body highlights the answer to this question.  Sex, drugs, greed, pleasure are all very sensual and pander to cravings of my body.  

Saint Paul suggests the way to move away from slavery to my body is to become obedient to teaching.  Teaching from whom? From Sacred Scripture, from the teachings and traditions of the Church.  Obedience is not a popular virtue but one I need to embrace none the less.

Jesus, you know my struggles and weaknesses.  Help me me become a slave to to your love.

Little Flower, please pray for me.

The Better Part

The Lord answered: ‘Martha, Martha,’ he said ‘you worry and fret about so many things, and yet few are needed, indeed only one. It is Mary who has chosen the better part; it is not to be taken from her.’
Lk.10:41,42

Jesus arrives at the home of the two sisters Mary and Martha.  They each respond differently to Jesus' presence.  Martha becomes a servant, Mary becomes a worshiper.  Martha is not at peace in her role and is resentful of Mary, complaining about her to Jesus. Jesus gently rebukes the agitated striving in Martha and uses Mary's example as an antidote to that stress.

We need both Marthas and Marys in the world.  Things need to get done or chaos would abound.  Worship needs to be given or God would remain unacknowledged and hidden.  It's just a matter of timing and priority.  Jesus holds worship as the greater activity, I guess because it is the thing most in danger of being left out through my business.

I need to make space for worship before the business of my day crowds it out.  As DC Talk sing their song DAY BY DAY [Jesus Freak];

I live a simple life, I take a day at a time.
I spend my mornings with God before I hit the grind.
The subtleties of darkness never cease to amaze
as the physical world creates a spiritual haze.

Lord Jesus, thank you for always being there when I make the time to worship.  Help me make space for the "better part" of my day.
Little Flower, please pray for me.