Today's first reading contains one of the most relatable passages in all of scripture: St. Paul's agonizing cry, "The good that...
Today's first reading contains one of the most relatable passages in all of scripture: St. Paul's agonizing cry, "The good that I want to do, I don't do; the evil that I do not want to do, that I do." He perfectly expresses the human condition, the struggle to Grasp the good but succumbing to the temptation to sin. We all know this internal battle, the war between our spirit and our flesh.
Paul's only answer is our answer: "Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!" This is the key. Deliverance from this wretched struggle is a free gift of Grace. We cannot earn it; we must receive it.
This reliance on Grace did not lead to idleness in the life of St. Anthony Mary Claret, whose feast we observe today. He was a powerhouse of action, a fervent missionary, preacher, and reformer. His life was a tireless effort to spread the Gospel. He constantly interpreted the present time—the Gospel reading's challenge—and saw that the time was ripe for spreading God’s word through every means possible, from preaching to mass-produced pamphlets. He understood the urgency of settling with our "adversary" by repenting and embracing Christ's Grace now.
Brothers and sisters, let us stop trying to Grasp goodness through sheer willpower. Let us instead Grasp Christ's saving hand and pray for the infusion of his Grace. And like St. Anthony Mary Claret, let this Grace compel us to boldly live and proclaim the Gospel, today, in this very present time. Amen.
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