Monday, October 10, 2011

Devotion - Monday, October 10

The comments I shared last week, regarding how one's associates affect one's behaviors, was met with a few very encouraging replies. This morning's reading, from Origen of Alexandria (185-254) struck a similar cord. Rather than that which external to us, Origen speaks of that which is internal.

He is speaking of prayer. When it comes to our sinfulness, he includes this, "ask God, first for healing to be delivered of the habit that causes one to sin." We do, over time, develop habits that lead to sinfulness.

The pop-religious will identify the "big three" areas of sinfulness, but we must also look at those sins which are seldom identified and thus never confessed or seldom avoided. We develop glutinous and self-indulgent habits. We ignore the poor and those in prison. Comparing ourselves to those whose social class is bit higher than our own we think we have no money to give to the relief of others. We fall into habits which erode our devotion and impede our spiritual journey.

Habits are formed over time. It will take us time to change those habits. Before we can change them, we must heed Origen's advise by recognizing them, then asking God to deliver us from them. Habits develop slowly; they are slowly altered. But it is possible. And it is a step in the right direction to living as God would have us live.

No comments: