Theological road work
Yet again, my parish priest gave a sermon that made me think to myself "sheesh... I've really been screwin' up a lot lately. I gotta straighten up and fly right".
Maybe it's just because I'm weird, but my thoughts usually string together with no logical pattern. Here's what I thought about after Mass (with Father's sermon still fresh on my mind);
- Thought One - "I have to put greater effort to my spiritual exercises."
Thought Two - "I remember back in my Marine Corps days, I use to exerciser a lot".
Thought Three - "I wish I was in shape to lift weights like I use to".
Thought Four - "Sometimes, picking up that Rosary is heavier than any weight I use to bench, curl or dead-lift".
Thought Five - "But if I don't, my soul will become weak, out of shape and easily beaten."
Thought Six - "OK, time to hit the beads. And everything will turn out alright. After all, I've got The Holy Mother spotting me."
I love those guilt sermons that make life difficult. It's good though. Sounds like your priest is one of the good guys!
ReplyDeleteWhere would we be without these priests trying to keep us on the straight and narrow?
ReplyDeleteThose weights may be heavy, but lack the power and weight of your rosary. Gotta use em to see the results! Remember the good ole Padre says "it's the weapon!"
As I am certain I heard the same thing you did Caveness I left feeling exactly the same.
ReplyDeleteHow friggin' easy it is to slip down the ladder of piety, and how gosh darned hard it is to climb back up even one single rung!
Interesting - the first thing that popped into my head was reading some good ol'timey St. Ignatius of Loyola spiritual exercises and maybe "The Way (St. Josemaria Escriva).
ReplyDeleteWhatever the current state of the Jesuit order, I find the primary source reading to be helpful when I'm in a spiritual ebb.