dominicosRomans 7, 14-25
On the page that we are about to meditate, we will find the most dramatic description of "the human condition": man is a divided being, he aspires to good and does bad.
(v.18) "Well do I know that no good dwells within me, that is, in my body. In practice, I am capable of wanting good, but not capable of doing it",
Evil is stuck to our being "it dwells" in us. Thus, even before a man takes a decision, evil is already in him. More than a simple request or invitation from the exterior, temptation is inside, it is in the heart of myself. It is always a mistake and superficial to accuse others, the world, to justify or excuse ones own falls; evil is much more rooted than all that, it dwells in the depths of our conscience that is falsified. It is an evil anterior to our decision, an original evil.
I do not do the good that I want, but do the evil that I don't want.
How true is this analysis of human weakness! Who amongst us hasn't had this experience? It is the radical impotence of all will without the help of grace. I know very well what I should do..I would wish to do it..And I don't achieve it.
I delight in the Law of God, as a reasonable man, but I perceive another law in my members that fights against the law of my intelligence and chains me to the law of sin.
Sin is the true alienation of man: evil alienates man, committing him to a destiny that contradicts his profound aspirations and the vocation to which God calls him.
Sin is the destructor of man.
And, most surprisingly, we are perfectly aware of this.
Our intelligence, our reason, are of accord with God. And this is the best of ourselves. This our real being. Lord, Look into me at this part of me that is in sympathy with you, that is in accord with your law.
But there is another side to my being that is chained to sin, says Saint Paul. And Saint Paul doesn't place himself apart from this statement. On the contrary, he spreaks in the first person "I delight in the Law of God..... I am chained . What a moving personal confession!
Why have we been made like this, Lord?
Why that fight in the depths of our being?
Why are there in us the best and the worst?
Wretched that I am! Who will free me of this body that takes me to death?
This prayer should be repeated. Because it is really a prayer. We can repeat it with Saint Paul. And give it all the contents of our weaknesses and our destitution.
For this liberation, thanks be given to God for Jesus Christ, our Lord.
Thanksgiving. Joyfulness. That my weakness should always end with this cry of confidence! The fundamental optimism of Saint Paul is not ingenuous, unreal. It is the conclusion of a rigorous analysis of the impotence of man to save himself.
In the very moment in which we run the danger of falling the hand of God comes to grasp us and save us.
Reflect and pray with the idea that most appeals to you .
Write down your feelings.
Make your final prayers