Recognize sin for what it really is: a way to strip you of grace, goodness, and happiness. It may come in different packages, it may carry various promises, it may appear a delight to the eyes and good for food, but it's simply a means to deprive you of life and wholeness.

The measure we use to give, is the measure with which we receive--you cannot receive the fullness of God, without a full gift of self. To the extent we withhold, we cannot receive, because we withdraw ourselves from God through a conscious decision. This is sin, and its attachment. The whole of Love invites us in, but our sharing in communion is in proportion to the degree we give ourselves completely. If we only knew the suffering it caused God, our Beloved--the passion--we would not sin.

Excerpted from Pope Benedict XVI's homily at his Inaugural Mass, April 24, 2005:

"Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope [John Paull II] said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ - and you will find true life. Amen."

Fallen, again. It keeps happening, why can't it just stop. I'm not expecting, and it creeps back in. I am in continual need of renewal. Plants need light each day. Animals need food. Once is not enough, life needs, depends. It is not self-sufficient. As time goes on, our physical life wanes, moving closer to an end. But the life of the spirit can grow ever brighter, moving closer to its end, its ultimate aim. Draw life from the Spirit, as you draw breath to the lungs. Depend and lean on him in all things, at all times. Do not drink once, and be done. Life is ever new, must be ever renewed. Falling is not the end, and staying down does not bring peace. Rising again is the sign of life, rise again. Pick up, keep going. Be one with him, receive his life for your own. Be in him, and he in you. Be filled. Keep going.

"...because I live, you will live also. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you." John 14:19-20 RSV

Living a holy life here on earth doesn't mean never making a mistake or falling into sin. In fact, trying to conform to our internally conceived notion of perfection can actually be a hindrance to spiritual growth. The saints help us understand this. Many were flagrant sinners before their initial conversion, and afterwards they were not suddenly perfect in every way. They were human, and yet they are still models for us because they were truly repentant of their sins, and allowed God to convert them more and more in each experience.

Pope Benedict XVI took the occassion of his General Audience on January 31, 2007 to touch briefly on this theme during a longer talk. He was examining the interactions between Saint Paul, Barnabas, Silas, and Apollos in their spreading of the Gospel, and had this to say:

"The two, Paul and Barnabas, disagreed at the beginning of the second missionary journey because Barnabas was determined to take with them as a companion John called Mark, whereas Paul was against it, since the young man had deserted them during their previous journey (cf. Acts 13: 13; 15: 36-40).

Hence there are also disputes, disagreements and controversies among saints. And I find this very comforting, because we see that the saints have not 'fallen from Heaven'. They are people like us, who also have complicated problems.

Holiness does not consist in never having erred or sinned. Holiness increases the capacity for conversion, for repentance, for willingness to start again and, especially, for reconciliation and forgiveness.

So it was that Paul, who had been somewhat harsh and bitter with regard to Mark, in the end found himself with him once again. In St Paul's last Letters, to Philemon and in his Second Letter to Timothy, Mark actually appears as one of his 'fellow workers'.

Consequently, it is not the fact that we have never erred but our capacity for reconciliation and forgiveness which makes us saints. And we can all learn this way of holiness."

--Doing good brings happiness. Evil may bring temporary pleasure, but good brings lasting peace.

--Doing good is pleasing to God. As our Creator, we have a duty to Him.

--Do good out of love for God. Our love for God guides us to chose good and avoid evil.

"For I, the Lord, am your God; and you shall make and keep yourselves holy, because I am holy." (Leviticus 11:44 NAB)

Trying to do things for God doesn't work. The spiritual life is not about gaining knowledge, then going out and applying it on our own. It is about collaborating with God. It is rooted in humility, the recognition that I cannot live a holy life of myself. It is about relationship, allowing God to change me in each moment, remaining united to him, following his will by drawing upon the strength he supplies. He both calls and provides. We must trust and follow.

And it is not a one-time decision; it is a daily decision, a continual directing of the will toward God. In the joy, and in the sadness; in the strength, and in the weakness; in the glory, and in the failure; in the excitement, and in the routine. God is present in each of these moments, and he is calling us to him. We must take up our cross and follow him. But his yoke is easy, and his burden light. How great the solace in our God. How tender his love toward us. God holds no esteem for the mighty, but reveals himself to the one who fears his name.

God, allow me to die to myself, for I cannot do it without you. Teach me to know your will, and to fulfill it with love. Amen.

Sometimes in my work, I wonder if I am doing the thing I'm called to do. Is there something missing, or am I missing something?

Looking at Jesus' life, I see that he was a carpenter for many years. Not exactly a high-profile job. Small corner of town, fixing an oxen yolk here, making a chair there, nothing big. And this is the Son of God mind you. Perfect in all respects. And he's working in wood: not the governor, not running a major business empire, not a rabbi of repute. A carpenter.

When he did start his public ministry around thirty, there was the wear and tear of travel, people hounding him, schemes from clerics, etc. Not quite a laugh a minute. And at the end of it, he was tortured, then executed ignobly. Hmph.

Maybe work is not about pursuing acclaim, or about doing what makes me feel happy all the time. Maybe I should focus, as Christ did, on a life poured out. In my work, am I giving my best to those I serve? Am I pouring out my life in my volunteer activities? To my family? And above all, to God?

When I look at life this way, it seems a little brighter, because it is easier to give away than to pursue. And I don't have to worry or focus on whether I am getting the right things out of life, I can just give whatever I have away.

"And he said to them, 'This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.'" (Mk 14:24 RSV)

One day when I had reached a state of disorientation and had no idea which direction to go in life, I prayed, "God tell me exactly what to do and I'll do it. Just let me know what to do."

I kept this up over a number of days, and finally when I was worn out I stopped. Then came illumination: 'I gave you free will. I'm not going to tell you every little thing to do. Exercise your free will to bring glory to me. I will be with you.'

I realized that God didn't create automatons, he created persons with free will. And the choices we face in life are more about the choosing of God in the present moment, than the choosing of "option A" versus "option B". In this way we show our love for Him, and come into closer communion with Him.