crucified or burnt flesh?
"In contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patient endurance, kindness, generosity, faith, mildness, and chastity." —Galatians 5:22-23
If we live by the Spirit (Gal 5:25), we will be led by the Spirit (Gal 5:18). We will then walk in the Spirit (Gal 5:25), Who will produce in our lives the fruit of the Spirit (Gal 5:22-23). However, if we stifle (1 Thes 5:19) or sadden the Spirit (Eph 4:30), we will do the works of the flesh (see Gal 5:19-21).
We cannot live for long partly in the flesh and partly in the Spirit, for these two are directly opposed (Gal 5:17). Either the Spirit in our lives is lusting against the selfish desires of our flesh so as to crucify them (Gal 5:24), or the flesh is increasingly stifling the Spirit so that after having begun in the Spirit we will end in the flesh (Gal 3:3). We will have either the fruit "that remains unto life eternal" (see Jn 6:27) or an everlasting hell of burning flesh.
Therefore, constantly decide to crucify the flesh and to live in the Spirit.
Prayer: Father, I choose life in the Spirit (see Dt 30:19) because I love You.
Promise: "Happy the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, but delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on His law day and night." —Ps 1:1-2
Praise: Hedwig glorified God by being a member of two holy families. She had two brothers who were bishops and a sister who was an abbess. Then, she raised her own seven children to know, love, and serve God.
Nihil Obstat: Reverend Ralph J. Lawrence, April 2, 1996
Imprimatur: †Most Reverend Carl K. Moeddel, Vicar General and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, April 3, 1996