THE SPIRIT AND THE CROSS

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified their flesh with its passions and desires.” –Galatians 5:24

If you have cancer in your body, you want to get rid of every cancer cell. Leaving behind even one cancerous cell might result in a future outbreak of cancer. If you have weeds in your lawn, you want to get rid of all of them. Leaving even one weed plant can result in the weeds returning in force.

Can we see that the sins of the flesh resemble cancer and weeds? Do we regard impurity in the same way? Do we think that we can just go ahead and watch this movie or have just this one weekend of “fun”? Or do we have the mindset of completely crucifying our flesh? (Gal 5:24; Gal 6:14) Before you answer these questions, spend at least one minute gazing at a crucifix. Jesus was serious about getting rid of sin. He suffered agony on the cross to atone for it.

Fr. Al Lauer, founder and long-time author of One Bread, One Body, said near the end of his life: “The more I say ‘No’ to myself, the more I say ‘Yes’ to the Holy Spirit.” The Spirit fights against temptation (Gal 5:17) and leads us to victory. Ask the Lord to fill you with the Holy Spirit (Lk 11:13).

PRAYER: Jesus, nail me to the cross with You so I may never leave You in time of temptation. Fill me with the Holy Spirit that I may be faithful to You and be purified of all selfishness.
PROMISE: “Since we live by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s lead.” –Gal 5:25
PRAISE: In the Third Century, Pope St. Callistus oversaw and organized the first official public Christian cemetery. He is commemorated as a martyr in the earliest martyrology of the Church. He wrote: “The spirit of a strong and stable character strengthened by meditation endures.”