“But if he turns from the wickedness he has committed, and does what is right and just, he shall preserve his life.” Ezekeil 18:27
Do you want to save your life? Change your ways … Do you want to save your life? Turn to Christ. Saving our lives isn’t just about taking care of our bodies to live a long life; it’s also about taking care of our souls which are destined for eternal life. We’re both body and soul, and we simply can’t neglect one or the other. We take care of both, mindful that the body is weak – tempting the soul into acts that can harm or even kill the soul. When this happens, we’re not saving our lives. We need to change; we need Christ. Today’s readings serve as a reminder that sin is very real and very present in our lives. Sin destroys our lives – harming both body and soul. Sin tries to persuade you otherwise, fooling one into believing that there’s no harm, but truth reveals that the harm is imminent. God however has our back; He desires our salvation, and Christ is the means to our salvation. How then do we care for our souls? By coming to faith in Christ – uniting ourselves with him and changing our ways as well as our minds and hearts.
Coming to faith in Christ is to believe not just with our mind but our hearts; coming to terms with our sinfulness and accepting Christ as the only one who can change our way of being – knowing that it’s Christ who died for us so that we could be saved. And, the first step in this awareness is the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the place where we accept our brokenness and seek healing … the place where we admit our sins to the Lord – those ways that we’ve offended him and his will, how we’ve offended those whom we’re called to love, and how we’ve offended ourselves by imposing harm on ourselves with these sins – and we ask for his forgiveness … and the place where we’re aware of our need for God’s mercy. When then was the last time that you turned from your wickedness and done what’s right and just to preserve your life … when was the last time that you turned to Christ, to change your ways? It’s never too late; reconciliation is always a confession away.
This week, the Church celebrates the feasts of the Archangels Saints Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael, and as we reflect on the readings, we recall the Prayer of Saint Michael who we ask to protect us and help us avoid wickedness. As the prayer goes … “St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our defense against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray, and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, thrust into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.” Saint Michael the Archangel … pray for us. s.
In Christ
Fr Robert Marquez
Pastor of Saint Charles Borromeo Catholic Community