MATTHEW 11:12, 15
From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven is something to be conquered, and the violent take it by force. Let anyone with ears listen!
---- my own,
Those who belong to the Kingdom of Heaven are warriors against their own concupiscence. Unless you die to the flesh, you cannot be alive to the Spirit of God who lives in you, yes, even to the point of violence against your own desires, comfort, ease of living, pleasure, and self-indulgence. Unless you root each of these from your life, you cannot grow in virtue, in courage, in discipline, in self-control, in wisdom, in understanding of the things of God. Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it will not bear any fruit. Every moment of every day, you need to die to yourself and to your sinful inclinations. You are given opportunity after opportunity each day to exercise the virtues; to be generous, kind, tender-hearted, caring, to live for others and not to live for yourself. Each time you act on them, you will grow in virtue. To constantly deny yourself, take up your cross daily, and follow Me is not easy. You build up the ability to do so by taking little steps each day. The way to do this is to listen to Me by reading My Word, frequenting the Sacraments, attending Holy Mass daily, and spending time in personal prayer and reflection, being a part of the family of God, and making yourself available to those who need you. Unless you learn to live for others, you cannot die to the sinful habits in you, which, if left unattended, will sprout like weeds. I died a violent death for you. I suffered all things physically, spiritually, and mentally for you. You, too, must die to yourself by carrying the daily crosses that are yours. Carry them cheerfully, gladly, unhesitatingly, for as long as you are on the earth. The more you embrace your cross, the more your life will be conformed to Mine, and the Kingdom of Heaven will be yours.