Homily: 29th Week in Ordinary Time - Friday - Jesus sets captives free

Romans 7:18-25 View Readings

Psalm 119:66, 68, 76-77, 93-94

Luke 12:54-59

Each of us has struggled with what Paul describes in his letter today: how come when I know what is right and resolve to do what is good, I find myself again and again doing just the opposite?  We know what Paul is talking about when he says, “For I do not do the good I want, but I do the evil I do not want.”

Each of the Saints all suffered with this same tendency—this war between the flesh and the spirit.  It’s as if two natures are fighting within each of us, isn’t it?—the true and the false, the good and the evil, the deadly and the vivifying. 

Even though we are redeemed by Christ—washed clean in the saving waters of Baptism—we still wrestle and struggle with a part of our fallen nature that still wants to turn away from God.  Tradition calls that tendency concupiscence.  It’s one of the consequences of sin that we will never be free of on this side of eternity.  Concupiscence, is the tendency that each one of us still has to reject grace, to backslide into sinful choices, sinful attitudes, sinful behaviors—that tendency to withdraw from communion. 

But as Christians, we just don’t throw up our hands and surrender to concupiscence—because God gives us grace to fight and to remain faithful.  Even though it feels like we are prisoners to our emotions, to our week wills, and to the cravings of our bodies, Jesus shows us that we can find freedom by clinging to God.  Jesus came to set captives free.

The Catechism teaches: "The way of perfection passes by way of the cross. There is no holiness without renunciation and spiritual battle.  Spiritual progress entails the self-denial and mortification that gradually lead to living in the peace and joy of the Beatitudes."

The spiritual disciplines of Lent, prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, can be practiced all year round to build up our spiritual muscles against concupiscence.  Holding back a cutting remark, resisting the urge to share that juicy piece of gossip, lead to greater custody of the tongue, and helps us to use our words in ways that consistently glorify God. Persevering in prayer despite a time of dryness can prepare us for greater spiritual challenges in the future.

Today, amidst the great civil war which battles within each of us, may we know the freedom and strength which comes from Christ, that we may be faithful to the promises of our Christian Baptism, for the glory of God and salvation of souls.