Nothing, but the life of God in the soul, can properly be called life. They who go astray from God, His will and commandments, are dead. Hence Saint Paul says, You hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins. The life of God communicated in holy baptism, ceases in those who live in willful sin; and they must be recreated and born again, to have God restored to dwell in them. The death of Christ is not enough, nor is it all we need for our salvation. Unless there is a restoration within us of the image of God, we are not only, not in a state of readiness to dwell with Him, but in a state of alienation from Him. What importance this gives to earnestness in all religious duties, to prayer and watchfulness! to take heed not to grieve the Holy Spirit of God, whereby we are sealed unto the day of redemption. What a different thing does this show the Christian life to be, from a mere keeping up of forms and ceremonies, or mere customary regard to the external requirements of the Church. We must have, and seek to maintain the life of God in our own daily lives. The apostle means this, when he says: To me, to live is Christ. May God help us to understand and act on this!
- text taken from Daily Bread - Bring a Few Morning Meditations for the Use of Catholic Christians by Father Richard Waldo Sibthorp