Reading and meditation on the Word of God on Wednesday of the twenty-eighth week in ordinary time, October 14, 2026.
Our meditation today has the theme: The Crucifixion of Our Flesh. Christian spirituality derives its main source from Jesus Christ. Even though in the development and growth of the Church, the influence of different cultures and civilizations have contributed to life the Christianity. Jesus as the center has never changed. The Lord Jesus Christ wishes human souls to be saved and go to heaven, while their bodies will die and become one with nature in the world.
There was a young boy who asked his mother about the meaning of lust of the flesh. After his Mom’s explanation, the teenager was able to understand that if he could not control sugary foods, he would suffer from diabetes. If he cannot control fatty foods, he will accumulate cholesterol which leads to a heart attack. If he cannot control his sexual desire, he will fall into pornography and free sex. If he cannot control playing games, his studies at school will be interrupted. And there is still a long list of similar reminders that the teenager made in his diary.
This parental advice which is followed by the growing awareness of the boy is in line with the mission of the Lord Jesus Christ. In all of Jesus Christ's teachings, things about self-denial and taking up the cross are the main emphasis in following Him to be His disciples. Self-denial means the crucifixion of our fleshly desires. According to Saint Paul in his Letter to the Galatians, the flesh is about all forms of lust and desire which are regulated in the law. This law is contrary to the Holy Spirit who gives us the law of love.
Jesus Christ and the saints teach us that the crucifixion of our flesh or also known as mortification aims to bring us to perfection. The scriptures proclaim on the act of renunciation as an obligation that every follower of Christ should do. All about flesh orientation that is expressed through the indulgence of the human body and which was the activity the Pharisees were so obsessed with must be turned off, because if we continue to do so, our souls will find it difficult to accompany us to God. Our spiritual life as our way to God can even die. Jesus says, "Woe" to those who are always after the need of the flesh as their focus in life and do not crucify it.
What is more alarming if that orientation really takes control of the life of a person and will cause him/her to lose the chance to go to heaven and experience eternal life. This should be a constant reminder to us so that we will know how to deal with our lust for the flesh or the need of the body which eventually will stop in this world. Meanwhile, our souls will take us to heaven.
Let's pray. In the name of the Father ... Almighty and ever living God, bless our journey of faith, so that we always strengthen our efforts to do renunciation in order to make our souls clean and pure. Hail Mary, full of grace ... In the name of the Father ...
