DAILY HOMILIES #st. francis de sales

By talking about the flesh as weak, useless, and captive, St. Paul drives home the point that we cannot depend on our strength as far as avoiding sin is concerned. To win the war against sin, we must keep running to Jesus again and again. Left to ourselves, we are such wretched creatures, but thanks to Jesus Christ, by the power of His Grace, we can live above sin.

You cannot give what you do not have. Like these disciples, you can only preach the Gospel after you have spent time with Jesus. Show me any good preacher, and I will show you someone who spends time with God’s Word daily. Jesus is still looking for people to continue His mission of saving the world. Pray and study the Bible more if you feel called to be a disciple. Jesus will open your eyes to see many things you never imagined before.

As much as asking for God’s grace in fighting temptations is important, we must never forget that grace builds on nature. God wants you to make an effort; that is, try to avoid danger and be wise. Your accuser is the devil; to conquer him, you must be “wise as serpents and innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16).