Well, here I go again. I
can't believe how much weight I have gained! It is time for me to get serious about losing a few pounds. I can't
fit into most of my clothes and I can't afford a new wardrobe! This shouldn't be THAT difficult. Ok, cut out all
junk food, pasta, rice, potatoes, fried foods, ALL desserts, and mostly snacks. More salads, fruit, vegetables,
fish, tuna, chicken, eggs, cheese, and more salads. These things are all good for me and in the end will make me healthier.
You know, it's amazing how our
physical life and spiritual life parallel each other. Take for instance todays Gospel reading -
God tells us that the door to
eternal salvation is narrow. Now I'm not saying you have to be skinny to get through that door, but there are some things
you need to shed. Not pounds, but things like anger, greed, pride, envy, lust, sloth and our desire for material
things. These are things that harm our soul, just as bad food harms our body. They aren't called "The Seven Deadly
Sins" for nothing. Unless we learn to "trim the fat" (trim the sin per se') we are jeopardizing our chances at an eternal
life with God our Father. Christ also tells us "Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many I tell you, will
attempt to enter but will not be strong enough." Many will attempt? I don't know about you,
but that scares me. How many is many? He is telling us that many of us are living lives that we think will
get us through that door but are not strong enough in our faith to enter. To get strong we need to rid our selves of
those things mentioned earlier and strengthen ourselves. We can do that by living out the commandments that He
gave us, through prayer, and practicing "The Seven Heavenly Virtues" - chastity, temperance, charity, diligence, patience,
kindness and humility. Mostly just imitating Christ. These things will give us the strenghth we need to enter
that door.
