Today is the 14th Sunday after Pentecost. I can feel the morning breeze as I travel this morning, not anymore from Reno, but from Carson City. I received a new assignment from Bishop Daniel Mueggenborg, DD, to fill the vacancy at St. Teresa of Avila Catholic Church as the Parochial Vicar, effective last Friday, September 1, 2023. The appointment letter states that I will continue to be your priest with the given faculty to use the Extraordinary Form. The Bishops says, “I am confident that you will carry out your responsibilities inspired by the example of the Good Shepherd, Jesus Christ, who came to serve and not to be served.” This is how we operate as a priest and a missionary; like a marine, we strike anywhere to serve and to fulfill our duty.
The epistle today, from the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians, provides us with Paul’s guides to live according to the way of the Spirit. Confusion happened that time amongst the Galatians converts from the Jewish tradition. It was a misunderstanding of the gospel being preached to them. It is in the uniqueness of the Gospel that Paul insisted to them that it is not about attacking and being in conflict with each other, however the remedy is to accept the dual nature of every believer and consider that a conflict started between the flesh and spirit. St. Paul is trying to live out the gospel of Christ by way of its character on how the spirit is the true means of living our freedom in the service of love.
St. Paul says, “Walk in Spirit and you shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh; for the flesh lusts against the spirit and the spirit against the flesh; for these are contrary one to another.” In short, Paul is trying to make us understand that having a Spirit-filled life of love is only through the power of the Spirit, and the finished work on the cross was the law fulfilled (Rom. 8:3). I believe this is for believers’ understanding on how to conduct themselves according to the Spirit, rather than the letter of the law. The Spirit is the guidance for their day-to-day lives as the struggle with their sinful nature begins to wage war. Since the entrance of sin into the world, the flesh and spirit are constantly in conflict with each other making it difficult for the Galatian Church. It is simple to think that the “flesh” can be described as the “old self” while the “Spirit,” by virtue of Jesus Christ’s redeeming power, is how we experience a new kind of spiritual re-birth.
St. Paul’s message is direct and clear with the emphasis on this function of the work and character of the Spirit. Like, for example, when we desire anger, resentments, lustful desires, or exposing ourselves to evil desires, let us go back to our senses to seek this inner force which we must totally submit ourselves to and be governed by the Spirit. This is precisely the new way of St. Paul’s encouragement to us, that is, living in a way that consists of walking with the Holy Spirit, who has the supernatural power to deny the desires of the flesh. Our victory depends on our relationship with the Spirit and all about how our sinful deeds of the flesh mentioned in the epistle are total contradictions to our calling to live and to be with God in order to inherit the Kingdom.
The gospel today from Matthew 6:24-33 opens our minds and hearts to accept that God is the very center of our existence. Material things, like money and properties, are just gifts and a means to persevere in our willingness to serve God and others. Jesus says, “No one can serve two masters, for he will hate the one and love the other… you cannot serve God and mammon.” It means that we will faithfully serve God so that we will be protected from all challenges we encounter in our daily existence.
Our main focus as faithful servants of God is to sustain and to strengthen our belief in living in the presence of God. In our journey through life, having strong faith in Him means that you are willing and lovingly entrusting everything to Him with your life because, ultimately, we are happy and contented. Of course, it requires a certain amount or quality of a loving relationship. St. Paul says that we walk in faith, not in sight, always believing that God will provide our needs. This is my life as a religious; everything comes from God, and I just need to continue serving Him. Maybe money is an essential thing to live in our daily existence, but it must not be the center of our lives. It is God; just believe in Him and never lose hope, for He will never fail us.
Today, we are reminded that the measure of our freedom has to start with love which is an expression of our faith. “Seek ye therefore first His kingdom of God, and His justice; and all these things shall be added unto you.” Hence, seeking God’s love connects to our fruitful harvest in all things. Let love motivate us in all we do.
God bless you.
Fr. Arlon, osa
