Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary

When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, ‘I shall return to my home from which I came.’ But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that man is worse than the first.

Just like the unclean spirit, our sins can return after a good confession and make our lives worse than before. Because of this, it is important for us to be vigilant and to never rest on our laurels. Just because we were able to overcome a temptation doesn't give us a reason to relax where our souls are concerned. Indeed, we must train ourselves to be ever watchful against the sins that always seem to crawl back into our lives. If we do this, we will build up a wall of good habits that will keep our bad ones away. God may be merciful and always willing to forgive us, but it is up to us to keep ourselves spiritually clean and do everything in our power to know, love, and serve God and His children faithfully. We cannot do that if we allow our sins to reenter our lives. But we can succeed with vigilance and dependence upon the aid of the Holy Spirit, who is always ready to provide us the graces we need to overcome any obstacle along our way to heaven.

What are the sins we need to kick out of our lives? What can we do to keep them away? How can we build up our good habits so that the bad ones have no place in our hearts?

O Lord, we want you to dwell within us and nothing else.

Amen.