Some Important Words for Every Catholic at the Present Moment

St. Paul Writing His Epistles

Whether in conversations, social media posts, public statements, or essays, there are many words being exchanged about the Catholic Church these days. I also would like to share some words. 

These words deserve the serious attention of every Catholic. Every Catholic--bishop, priest, deacon, religious, seminarian, lay man, lay woman--would do well to spend significant time reflecting on these words and examining his or her own life. There is, I would say, something for all of us in these words. They are not my words. They were written by St. Paul and are found in the Fifth Chapter of his Letter to the Galatians.  

"For you were called to freedom, brothers and sisters; only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for self-indulgence, but through love become slaves to one another. For the whole law is summed up in a single commandment, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” If, however, you bite and devour one another, take care that you are not consumed by one another.

Live by the Spirit, I say, and do not gratify the desires of the flesh. For what the flesh desires is opposed to the Spirit, and what the Spirit desires is opposed to the flesh; for these are opposed to each other, to prevent you from doing what you want. But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not subject to the law. Now the works of the flesh are obvious: fornication, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, anger, quarrels, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these. I am warning you, as I warned you before: those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

By contrast, the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, competing against one another, envying one another" (Galatians 5:13-26).