The choices for life

The psalmist from the texts of the Roman Catholic Lectionary today asks the question which is deeply important to all people "Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord?" Paul opens Chapter 8 of the Letter to the Romans with an appeal to us to walk in our spiritual journey "according to the Spirit" and not to live according to the flesh. The choice to live in the pattern of our addictions which continually focuses on our needs and gratification cannot be in accordance with God's Law. In the Gospel of Luke today Jesus reminds the disciples that death is not reserved to the wicked or those who have a lack of God's blessings. All die. The Owner of the fig tree will come to look for the fruit. Jesus also indicates that God provides time and more care to bring forth fruit. The summary from Paul and the psalmist is that the life in the Spirit, the continual intimate relationship with the Father, through Jesus and the resonance of our indwelling Spirit with the Divine is assent to the hill of the Lord where we strive for clean hands, pure hearts and truth and experience the invitation to the state of no "condemnation for those who are in Christ". (Romans 8:1)