Don’t Rely On Your Own Strength – SSPX Sermons

Humility of heart is necessary to eradicate pride, which is the greatest stumbling block in the spiritual life. Like the pharisees, we are tempted to live an illusion, believing ourselves better than we truly are. This is why Our Lord reminds us that he who exalts himself shall be humbled, but that he who humbles himself shall be exalted.

From the moment of our baptism, when sanctifying grace flooded our soul, we became children of our heavenly Father and brothers and sisters of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Christ came into the world not only to save us from sin, but to show us what it is to live as true children of God.

We know about the gravity of sins committed against marriage – but sadly, many engaged couples start their relationship not with virtue, but with destructive tendencies.

The Catholic life forces us to navigate a sort of duality between the flesh and spirit, which sometimes leads us to absolutize one over the other. Similarly, we are often tempted to absolutize good and evil, treating the latter as substance that preys upon us rather than seeing it for what is: the privation of good. If we wish to rid our lives of evil, then we must put our souls at peace and recognize that we are surrounded by the good that God has created for us.

The opening ceremonies of the Olympics was marred by a flagrant act of blasphemy against Our Lord. This gross act does not inherently degrade the accomplishments of the athletes who compete, but it does provide an occasion to reflect on the place of sports in our lives and the disproportionate place we often give to them.

At times, we may believe our sins are too great for God’s mercy. It is commonplace for us to think we are beyond God’s love, and we compound our sins by losing hope and giving up. This is the exact opposite of how we should feel, for God’s mercy is infinite and it is there if we sincerely seek it.

The world, the devil, and even our own flesh are sources of temptation to sin. So why then do we ask God to not lead us into temptation? Does this mean God is a source of stumbling blocks that may make us fall out of a state of grace?

In our baptism, we renounce forever satan and his works. We are freed from sin. However, out of complacency, we do not appreciate what a vital act baptism is and the importance of putting a life of sin behind us.