The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews criticizes Israel by quoting from Psalm 95: ‘they do not know my ways.’ For me, the problem is not that I don’t know God’s ways but that I just don’t do them. The scene in the gospel of Mark where Jesus heals the leper rings true. After the healing Jesus admonishes him: “See that you tell no one anything.” But, the evangelist reports, The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. What part of “tell no one anything” did he not understand! Unfortunately, that is the story of my life as well. I have a hard time doing what Jesus tells me. What is it about human nature that we don’t do what we know what we are supposed to do! St. Paul speaks of a force that works against our will. For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing (Romans 7:19). We call that original sin. The answer is not to rely on our own will power, our own strength but instead to call on the grace of Christ for “I can do all things through him who strenthens me” (Philippians 4:13).
