October 21

Fourteenth Monday after Trinity

For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh. Galatians 5:17.

By the flesh S. Paul means "not the natural body, but the depraved will." Our corrupt nature is in its desires opposed to the Spirit of God, so there must be a conflict between them. The flesh disobeys the spirit; its appetites and motions forestall the will; the will is ready first to consent, then to excite and to enslave itself to them. Mortification of the spirit brings the flesh into subjection more efficaciously than any bodily austerity; and the reason of this is evident. The rebellion of the flesh against the spirit is the consequence and the punishment of the rebellion of the spirit against God. Therefore, when we bend all our strength to subject our spirit to God, we attack the principle of the disordered state of the flesh; and God, when He sees that the spirit is subject to Him, remits the penalty due to its pride and reduces the flesh to a state of duty. The more humble we are, the less we shall be exposed to the rebellion of the flesh.

Thy helplessness to know Is thy best wisdom here below, Yea, this to know is to be wise In heaven-revealed mysteries, This is the wisdom of the skies.

From day to day on every side Are we by new temptations tried, Like serpents which around us creep, While we seem bound in powerless sleep. To know ourselves is to confess Our own unaided helplessness, A child's true wisdom more and more Learn by thy falls—a spirit poor— The wisdom of its infant cries, Which on a parent's hand relies.