The Battle Within (Romans 7:18–25)

Today, we hear a very vulnerable St. Paul speaking openly about his inner conflict, the constant struggle between good and evil where, at times, evil seems to prevail. For a man as exemplary as Paul, this honesty is both humbling and encouraging. He wanted us to understand that the fight between light and darkness exists in every heart, yet so does the grace of God that gives victory.

Friends, evil is the tragic consequence of human freedom. God gives us the freedom to choose, and with that comes the responsibility to choose well. But we are not left powerless, His grace is sufficient.
What we need is not more strength of the flesh, but willpower rooted in the Holy Spirit, to do good and resist the lure of evil.

We also reflected today on how often people seek God fervently in moments of need, attending Mass, joining prayer groups, serving with passion, but once they receive what they prayed for, they drift away. Even personal prayer begins to feel like a burden.

This is how evil works: it doesn’t always strike loudly; sometimes it quietly disconnects us from the source of our strength, prayer, faith, and our community, leading us slowly toward spiritual emptiness.

May it never be said of us:
that we prayed and stopped praying,
that we praised and stopped praising,
that we served and then grew cold.

Faith is not a phase; it is a lifelong relationship.

Let us, like Paul, keep confessing our weakness and depending on grace. When we stumble, may we rise again and say with him:

“Thanks be to God, through Jesus Christ our Lord!” (Romans 7:25)

Prayer:

Lord, when the battle within grows fierce, strengthen our will with Your Spirit. Keep our hearts faithful, our prayer constant, and our love steadfast. May nothing, not success, not comfort, not temptation, draw us away from You. Amen.