November 1

Fifteenth Friday after Trinity

This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. 1 S. JOHN v. 4.

VICTORY over temptation is the witness of heavenly birth. Living and victorious faith is that whereby Christ dwelleth in our hearts. Christ will not dwell in our hearts if we fill our hearts with things which He hates. Is there no victory, nor real faith, when the world holds a struggle with us, sometimes overcoming us, sometimes overcome? In some things victory should be complete at once. Sins of infirmity there may be; sins against light there should not be. To do wilfully and knowingly what God hates, destroys faith and hope and love. But so that thou art fighting against thy besetting sin, if thou art conquering thyself, thou art still Christ's soldier, even though in thought, word, or deed thou be from time to time in lesser things surprised. God has so willed that everything, even victory over ourselves, should be gained step by step. God alone works things at once. It belongs to His almightiness. He created us in a moment; He giveth us in a moment, through His sacrament, the first spark and principle of life; He willeth that we should through our whole lives guard, cherish, enlarge that first gift, and receive it more fully. He willeth that through our very slowness and failures we should learn and keep humility. God places in baptism a principle of life within us, which, if we allow it to work as we grow on, will penetrate our whole souls, transform this heavy mass of our earthliness into its own Divine nature.

'Tis done; that new and heavenly birth Which re-creates the sons of earth, And cleanses from the guilt of sin The souls whom Jesus died to win.