by La Bonnardiere. I suspect the sermon was preached at the midnight Mass; not only does the
SERMON 193 51 law of your mind, and taking you prisoner to the law of sin which is in your members', persist in your good will, and cry out what follows: Wretched man that I am, who will set me free from the body of this death? The grace of God, through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom 7:18.22-25).
He, you see, after the war in which the flesh lusts against the spirit, and the spirit against the flesh, so that it is not the things you wish that you do (Gal 5:17), is peace on earth to people of good will, because he is our peace, who has made the two into one (Eph 2:14). So let good will persist in standing firm against evil desires, and persist in imploring the help of God's grace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. The law in the members of the flesh is fighting back against it, and here it is, already being taken prisoner. Let it implore help and not trust in its own powers; and even if weary and in distress, let it at least not be too proud to confess. One will be at hand, don't forget, who said to people that already, as he could see, believed in him, If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will recognize the truth, and the truth will set you free (Jn 8:31-32). Truth will be at hand to set you free from the body of this death. That, for sure, is why Truth, whose birthday we are celebrating, has sprung from the earth (Ps 85:11), in order to be peace on earth to people of good will.
Is anybody, I mean to say, in a position to have both the will and the ability, unless the one who granted us the will by calling us, also helps us to have the ability by inspiring us? The fact is, his mercy gets in ahead of us every single time; to call us when we were lacking the will, and then to ensure we obtain the ability to do what we will. So let us say to him, "/ have sworn and determined to keep the judgments of your justice (Ps 119:106). I have indeed determined, and promised obedience because you have ordered it; but because I can see another law in my members fighting back against the law of my mind, and taking me prisoner to the law of sin which is in my members (Rom 7:23), I have been utterly humbled, Lord; give me life according to your word (Ps 119:107). Look, to will is available to me (Rom 7:18); therefore, approve, Lord, the voluntary offering of my mouth (Ps 119:108), so that your peace may come on earth to people of good will."
Let us say all this, and anything else that loyal devotion, instructed by the holy readings, may suggest,7 so that we don't come thronging in vain to the celebration of the Lord's birth of the virgin; but rather begin with good will, and end up made perfect with the fullest charity,8 which is poured into our hearts, not through our own doing, but through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us (Rom 5:5).
NOTES
1. This is the one precise date given by Kunzelmann and Fischer, in which they are supported by La Bonnardiere. I suspect the sermon was preached at the midnight Mass; not only does the