Dear Parishioners,
We often speak about flesh and Spirit in the Christian life. What exactly does this mean?
In today’s second reading, Saint Paul clarifies the distinction between flesh and spirit in relation to baptism. The gift of baptism incorporates us into the Mystical Body of Christ through the action of the Holy Spirit. How can one live in the Spirit while carrying the heavy burden that the flesh seems to impose on us?
Life indeed is a paradox. Both spirit and flesh play significant roles in our relationship with God. The Spirit is often associated with godliness, while the flesh is associated with human weakness and depravity. Yet the flesh remains an integral part of our being—one that can be difficult to master. The flesh is associated with the weakness of mind and body that falls short of spiritual expectations.
In the flesh, Adam and Eve took their first wrong step in the Garden. In the flesh, we too have made wrong choices. The flesh is associated with pleasures and desires that move us to seek our own interests, even when they contradict God’s law. Saint Paul admonishes the Romans: “You are not in the flesh; on the contrary, you are in the spirit, if only the Spirit of God dwells in you. Whoever does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.”
Where does the Spirit of which Saint Paul speaks come from? It comes through Jesus Christ. In the waters of baptism, we become a new creation, and the Spirit of God is given to us. We become God’s adopted children. The challenge is that we are not always strong in our faith or faithful to our new life in Christ. As a result, the flesh often draws us back to old and ungodly ways. How many times have you made promises to God only to break them shortly afterward? How many times have we chosen to please ourselves and disregard His commandments?
It is a constant battle to remain faithful to the God who loves us so much. Today’s readings remind us of the essentials of our relationship with Him. The Lord alone can save us; we cannot save ourselves. Therefore, we should joyfully await His coming and remain watchful for His arrival. The Israelites were promised that their Savior would come riding on a donkey. Jesus fulfilled that promise when He rode into Jerusalem.
Our unfaithfulness often drowns us in sorrow. The desire to please God remains within us, but our actions sometimes seem far removed from our good intentions. The conflict between spirit and flesh continues to rage within us. Yet our hope is in Jesus, who assures us that the Father has entrusted to Him the power to console those “who labor and are burdened.”
Is there an end to this human frailty? The more we try to overcome it, the more we seem bound to fail. Who will save us? Jesus will.
First, He says, “Come to me.” That should be our first step. To go to Him is to begin breaking the shackles that hold us down. In exchange, He takes away our burden and offers us something far better: peace and strength. “Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened, and I will give you rest.” In Jesus Christ lies our hope. Let your hearts be strong, for He comes to save and not to condemn.
Grace and peace to you—Fr. Vitalis Anyanike, Pastor
