fight fire with fire
“Anyone who looks lustfully at a woman has already committed adultery with her in his thoughts.” —Matthew 5:28
We who live in the “culture of death” are caught in a raging war for control of our senses. We are continually bombarded with sexual sensationalism. This is a serious problem, because we need to avoid sexual fantasies so as to avoid the possibility of punishment in everlasting fire (see Mt 5:28-30).
How can we possibly avoid these “near occasions of sin”? We can’t drive anywhere without seeing huge billboards flaunting scantily clad women or men. We can’t walk onto a public square or beach on a warm day of June without seeing some immodest display of skin. To avoid sights which could lead to temptation, we would have to be blind! (see Mt 5:29)
Let’s fight fire with fire. Extreme danger calls for extreme actions. If a handheld electronic device or TV is your problem, cast it out — into the trash. Better to lose a few hundred dollars than your eternal soul. If movies are your problem, cut them out. Better to sit at home than to have your soul rot. If billboards are your problem, pray for those who create them instead of fantasizing about those who appear on them. If beaches are your problem, don’t go. Find some “living water” in which to immerse yourself (Jn 7:38).
Ask the Holy Spirit to fill you with the fire of His love (see Acts 2:3). Allow the Spirit to fight against your fleshly temptations (Gal 5:17). “My point is that you should live in accord with the Spirit and you will not yield to the cravings of the flesh” (Gal 5:16).
Prayer: Jesus, I want to be pure as You are pure (1 Jn 3:3).
Promise: “I believe that I shall see the bounty of the Lord in the land of the living.” —Ps 27:13
Praise: Repenting of taking fertility problems into their own hands, the Smiths gave up all reproductive practices which violated Church teaching. The Lord entrusted them with two foster children whom they were eventually able to adopt.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: "In accord with the Code of Canon Law, I hereby grant the Nihil Obstat for the publication One Bread, One Body covering the time period from June 1, 2022 through July 31, 2022. Reverend Steve J. Angi, Chancellor, Vicar General, Archdiocese of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio November 18, 2021"
The Nihil Obstat ("Permission to Publish") is a declaration that a book or pamphlet is considered to be free of doctrinal or moral error. It is not implied that those who have granted the Nihil Obstat agree with the contents, opinions, or statements expressed.