Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost

Thoughts for the Week - Fr. R. Taouk 
16th August 2015

The virtue of purity is so beautiful and precious that we should take every precaution and make use of every safeguard in order to protect it. The Holy Ghost in the Book of Wisdom says: "How beautiful is the chaste generation with glory: for the memory thereof is immortal: because it is known both with God and with men" (Wis. 4:1). Our Lord praises the pure of heart: "Blessed are the pure of heart for they shall see God" (Matt. 5:8). Therefore, unless we are pure of heart we shall not receive the infinite reward of the Beatific Vision. Disciplining our sense of touch is one way of preserving our treasure of purity.

Do you always assume the most comfortable position? Do you observe correct postures in walking, standing, or sitting? Do you complain immediately of cold or heat? Do you insist on the best, though another member of the family may have to make a sacrifice in consequence? Do you insist on the smartest outfits, refusing to wear anything which is the least bit out of style? Do you usually choose the most comfortable chair for yourself?

This practice of self-discipline - this guarding of the senses - is the ABC of living a Christian life. Are there those of us who have grown into adulthood and have not yet begun to learn the alphabet of the spiritual life? We have the example of the Saints to encourage us in the practice of self-denial or self-discipline, for they all exercised vigilant control over their senses. Many of them are outstanding for having chastised their bodies with severe penances.

Our best penances will usually be the faithful performance of our duties towards God, our neighbour, and ourselves. In fact, the little things are far more difficult and much more important. Take, for example, the willing acceptance of the little trials and crosses which Providence allows us to suffer and the little acts of self-denial which are necessary to control our body and senses in order to win our eternal salvation.

Fast and Abstinence - Our Blessed Lord fasted forty days and forty nights before He began His mission. The Church, true to His teaching, has established the Lenten fast, that of the Vigils and of the Ember Days, as well as the abstinence of Fridays, in order to give her children the opportunity to curb their appetites and thus atone for their sins.

Prayer - is a powerful supernatural means of obtaining control over our senses. Our petitions to our Heavenly Father for light, strength, and courage to practice self-denial for love of Him, will always be answered. He knows our frailties and our dependence on Him and will always give us the necessary strength to combat our weaknesses. We must, of course, cooperate. Therefore, in difficulties and temptations we should turn to Him by humble, confident, and persevering prayer. "Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and you shall find; knock, and it shall be opened to you" (Matt. 7:7-8).