St. John of the Cross, in his works "The Ascent of Mount Carmel" and "The Dark Night of the Soul", expounds on the need to be purified of our passion and appetites. Of course, appetites here do not refer only to food but to everything that we hunger and lust for. Many people will see his works as being too demanding but if we read his tempestuous background, the pure motive is obvious.

If our hearts truly long for God and want to be with Him, this enchanting love will motivate us to do whatever it takes to purify ourselves in order to be with God. Purification comes from two sides, ours and God's. We first need to choose to actively purify our senses and spirit and leave everything else to God's graciousness. Only when we are in this mode of living that we will not allow ourselves to fall into complacency.

The passage in Ecclesiasticus tells us today, to guard our steps and mouth and not to delay our return to the Lord and not to set our hearts on ill-gotten gains. Jesus cautions His disciples against luring others to commit sin. To cause others downfall is irreparable. They have to tame their wants and not stimulate others to sin. Charitable deeds purify wanton appetites. Let us always set our hearts on the things of God and be at guard against lukewarmness and complacency.