Sirach 7:36 In all you do, remember the end of your life, and then you will never sin.
The Power of Sin
Praise the Lord my Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ Jesus, Holy Mother Church has been reading from the book of Romans these days as the first reading, and I should confess that it’s my favorite of the Pauline Letters. I specially love Romans 8 ‘Life in the Spirit’; the new life that you and I are called to live.
What a beautiful reading we have today from Romans 6 that talks about the need to not allow sin to rule over our Mortal bodies. St Paul is clear, or should I say the Holy Spirit is clear in this regard, Romans 6:12 says ‘do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies, to make you obey their passions.’ It does not say ‘Try your very best to see to that Sin does not exercise dominion in your mortal bodies’ but do not let sin exercise dominion in your mortal bodies.
Steps Toward Freedom
This is something we cannot do on our own. A person who has come to realize that has taken his first step towards the true freedom Christ has called him or her to live. St Paul says in Galatians 5: 1 ‘For freedom Christ has set us free. Stand firm, therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.’ In this reflection I would like to share my personal liberation story and the true experience of Galatians 5:1 in my life. For years together I was addicted to the Devil’s bondage of pornography. I would go to confession every single time I fell into this sin. Looking back, I see that as sheer grace. It would have been easy to lose hope and wallow in sin. Or, to fall into despair asking, ‘what is the use of confession?’ I am falling into the same sin again. But this is where I experienced the power of the sacraments and Jesus’s merciful love towards my soul.
Breaking the Power of Sin
Romans 6:13 tells us not present our members to sin as this is exactly what the devil wants. The Lord calls us to present ourselves to God. In pornography I was fulfilling the first part of Romans 6:13. And in confession driven by Jesus’s grace and mercy, I was presenting myself to God. This is the second part of Romans 6:13. In the end Jesus had victory. It has been nine glorious years since I was completely and totally liberated from the clutches of devil in falling into this sin. With sheer joy and grace, I can say with all my heart that Jesus has totally given me freedom from pornography. This is my Galatians 5:1 experience, what is your freedom in Christ experience?
Encouragement in the Struggle
Today, I would like to encourage you Brother and Sister. If you are struggling with any sin; never justify it, never say everybody does it, it’s OK. It’s not OK. The blood of Jesus Christ can give you complete freedom only if you truly desire it. Never give up on the Mercy of God. Run to the confessional over and over again. Do not wait for an opportunity to confess, make that opportunity. When God sees the true desire in your heart to be liberated from sin, he will truly and completely liberate you as he did in my life.
Romans 6:14 ‘For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.’
