What is Natural for You?

“The person who has surrendered himself entirely to sin indulges with enjoyment and pleasure in unnatural and shameful passions – licentiousness, unchastity, greed, hatred, guile and the forms of vice – as though they were natural. The genuine and perfected Christian, on the other hand, with great enjoyment and spiritual pleasure participates effortlessly and without impediment in all the virtues and all the supernatural fruits of the Spirit – love, peace, patient endurance, faith, humility and the entire truly golden galaxy of virtue – as though they were natural” (Symeon Metaphrastis, 10^th c.).

Although not a Saint in the Catholic Church, this quote from Symeon Metaphrastis is powerful in how it makes the distinction between the faithful and the unfaithful. How often I hear people speak about their sins like it is a natural thing to commit them. In reality, sin is only natural for those whose spirit is out of accord with the Holy Spirit. Ask yourself right now; truly, what is natural for you? What is your nature?

Much of the difference has to do with how we see ourselves. Do you see yourself as a wicked person who occasionally does good? Or, do you see yourself as someone redeemed by Christ who occasionally does evil? Numerous times in Scripture, St. Paul encourages to see ourselves as the latter. You are God’s children, baptized in His grace, and able to obey Him. Recognize what His grace has done for you, and see yourself as someone able to take advantage of that grace for your own salvation.