Earthly Desires
Earthly desires capture us all. Things of the flesh have tempted, broken, and destroyed all of us at some point in life, even as small as having to buy that new something that just came out. But we have to remember that these things don’t fill us, only the Glory of God through Our Lord Jesus can satisfy us.
Galatians 5:19-21 says, “Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are fornication, uncleanness, immodesty, luxury, idolatry, witchcrafts, enmities, contentions, emulations, wraths, quarrels, dissensions, sects, envies, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like. Of the which I foretell you, as I have foretold to you, that they who do such things shall not obtain the kingdom of God.”
In order to better understand this, here is an alternate translation:
“Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
While I know these words are deemed offensive by many in our day and age, they are only offensive because they expose the truth that humanity lives in sin and not only accepts but embraces and celebrates it. I want to stress that we are to love all as Our Lord does, but we must not condone the actions and lifestyles of those same people. We must love to spread the Word of God and the Good News of Our Lord and King Jesus Christ, not hate or destroy by making others feel inferior.
1 John 2:15-17: “Love not the world, nor the things which are in the world. If any man love the world, the charity of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, is the concupiscence of the flesh, and the concupiscence of the eyes, and the pride of life, which is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the concupiscence thereof: but he that doth the will of God, abideth for ever.”
Again, here is an alternate translation for the sake of understanding and comprehending:
“Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”
This is overwhelmingly easier said than done, but this is a constant war we battle. Though we may fall short, we must keep our eyes on Our Lord, and on our eternal goal of Heaven, to maintain that holy connection regardless of what we are going through. The temptation is around us at all times relentlessly trying to distract us, but we have weapons that do not dull, sent to us by the One who created all and sustains our very breath and heartbeat. Stay vigilant and keep your eyes on Christ Crucified. Entrust yourself wholeheartedly, without reserve, to the protection of Our Lady.
