Dear Fathers, Friends in Jesus Christ,
Romans 7:18-25a
Psalm 119:66, 68, 76, 77, 93, 94
Luke 12:54-59
Miserable one that I am!
Who will deliver me from this mortal body?
(Romans 7:24)
In today's First Reading we get a glimpse of how sin ties us up in knots until we are barely recognizable except by God who loves us.
In speaking of this condition, St. Paul is describing what is probably all too familiar to us, and that is how we often find ourselves doing what we shouldn't, and not doing what we should! Misery is what follows.
What should give us joy, doesn't. And what should refresh, fails!
Who will deliver us from such a state, St. Paul laments? It's a rhetorical question of sorts, or should we say a "faith and hope-filled question" that St. Paul places at the feet of our merciful Lord who wants only that we should know His will, and delight in doing it.
Don't be miserable anymore; be at peace and filled with joy!
Father Ed Bakker
Anglican Catholic Church / Original Province
Mission of Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne
Bendigo
Australia