Let’s reflect today on what it means to live lives of true dignity.

What gets in the way of our dignity?

LUST! EVIL! SIN!

Jesus said, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” Matthew 5:28

Indeed it is not just men who are guilty of this, women are guilty of looking lustfully at men too. Let us grow in dignity listening attentively to the Holy Spirit as we encourage one another to love not lust.

God wants to put us on a path of dignity. He knows that lustful looks lead to sinful choices and even with lustful gazes we have already lost our dignity.

Jesus told His apostles to “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.” Matthew 26:41

Years ago I learned that one of the highest selling ‘pay-per-view TV’ was pornography, otherwise known as “adult TV”.

Jesus would like all adults to choose dignified Television and “adult TV” does not qualify.

If you are guilty of looking lustfully at the opposite sex or consuming pornography, then TODAY is the day you can change!

None of us have to be defined by our past choices.   We can choose to change and Jesus will help us and restore our dignity. But before we can change we need to carefully examine our lives and determine how we need to change.

We can lose our dignity by the way we speak. Why do intelligent people have to sprinkle their speech with profanity?  Let us repent of our sin.

“The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” James 3:6

When we become mindful that we are always living in the presence of God we begin to speak with greater reverence and respect for one another.

Let’s ask Jesus to help us become the people He truly wants us to be. Let’s choose to look at one another with dignity and respect (not as lustful sexual creatures but loving, compassionate people) and let’s speak to one another with words Our Holy Lord would approve of.

Let’s live in the Spirit and make choices that will truly honour God, for that is a path of dignity to live for God and His Glory. Let’s recognize the paths that lead to sin and avoid them. Maybe that means saying ‘no’ to parties that lead to too much drinking. Maybe that means setting aside more time to be with God and read His Word. Maybe it means committing to some sort of charitable work that will inspire and nourish your Spirit. Maybe it means trusting more in Jesus and praying more for His guidance to make the right choices.

Let us pray…

Holy Lord, you came into the world to set us free from the bondage of sin. Help us Holy One to look closely at our lives to identify the ways in which we are losing our dignity. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit Lord so that we can turn away from sin and confess our sins so that we can begin anew on a path of dignity, knowing that we are walking with You on the road to our true destiny, heaven! We love You Jesus and we trust in You and hope in You! Help us to be the people you desire, a people of dignity, of reverence, of hope, of light! In Your Holy Name Jesus we pray today and everyday. We will stop to remember how much You suffered for us on the Cross each day at 3pm (in our local time zones) for 3pm is the time You died for us. At this Holy Time we will pray for Your mercy to be poured out like a healing balm upon our suffering world broken by sin. We will never stop loving You for You are Our Saviour and we know that You will set us free from sin so that we can be all Yours, a people of dignity and love!

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” John 8:36

“Strength and dignity are her clothing, and she smiles at the future. She opens her mouth in wisdom, and the teaching of kindness is on her tongue.” Proverbs 31:24-25

The Virgin Mary said this to St. Faustina: “Be courageous. Do not fear apparent obstacles, but fix your gaze upon the Passion of My Son, and in this way you will be victorious.”  Diary of St. Faustina

I have found these words from the wisest lady of all, the Mother of Our Lord and God, to be pearls of wisdom and I feel as though I live perpetually at the foot of the Cross of Jesus.

It is more than a decade now that I have been meditating daily on the Passion of Christ as I walk the Way to Calvary.  This daily reflection on the suffering of Our Lord Jesus moves my heart each and every day to try to give Him everything!  When we reflect on how much Jesus suffered to save us, temptation loses its grip on our lives as we surrender everything to Our Lord Jesus.

Let us stay close to Our Lord and pray that He gives us the grace to live dignified lives, one day-at-a-time, one moment at-a-time.