Friday of Week 29 in Ordinary Time
Rm 7:18-25
Lk 12:54-59
“You know how to interpret the face of the earth and the sky. How is it you do not know how to interpret these times? Why not judge for yourselves what is right?”
Today’s readings really speak to me personally. Some excerpts from Romans 7:18-19,23:
“For I know that nothing good dwells within me, that is, in my flesh. I can will what is right, but I cannot do it. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I do.”
“…but I see in my members another law at war with the law of my mind, making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.”
There are so many times that I feel really conflicted. I know the right thing to do or the right response, but for the life of me, I simply cannot bring myself to do it. For example, when in a rush and in traffic, someone cuts in front of me and starts going slow (probably within the speed limit but seemingly slow when you are in a rush). I know I should be calm, and perhaps say a prayer instead of getting agitated, and bad words come to mind. I am ashamed to say that I often succumb to the thing I do not want to do instead of the good that I want. That is only one small example of my day, every day.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us be real and admit that there is a spiritual battle going on, even within ourselves. We all know good from bad, but seem to be unable to do the good that we choose.
Which brings me to the Gospel reading. Jesus said, “Why not judge for yourselves what is right?” There are conflicting emotions within me when I read it. Keeping in mind of my concupiscence, why would our Lord leave me to judge for myself what is right? I know what is right, but I can’t seem to do it! Then I justify myself with all sorts of ridiculous arguments to convince myself that what I did wasn’t so bad. Then, reflecting more deeply, Jesus hasn’t left us to our own devices. Our God loves us so much, instead of making us slaves and not giving us a choice to love Him; He gave us free will to choose, to choose to love Him in return for the infinite love that He has for us. Sure, our will is weak, but if we only turn to Jesus and trust in Him in all things, we will be able to make the right choices and stick to them. Because He is our light, our strength and our shield.
Let me end with Psalm 23. This always gives me hope and strength. God Bless.
The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want,
He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside still waters;
He restores my soul.
He leads me in right paths for His name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff – they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me
In the presence of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life,
And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
My whole life long.
(Today’s OXYGEN by Winnie Kung)
Prayer: Lord Jesus, even though we know what is right, but still choose to do wrong; in those situations, we ask for Your compassion and mercy. Gently lead us back to the right path, and guard us with Your rod and staff. Help us to realize that with You as our shepherd, we fear no evil.
Thanksgiving: Heavenly Father, despite our tendency to sin and to choose wrongly, thank you for not giving up on us. Thank you for giving us, Jesus, Mother Mary, all the angels and saints and Your Holy Church to guide us in this life journey.
OXYGEN 
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