“You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house. Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father.”

Lukewarm = tepidity: only moderately warm, not hot, not cold.

– Porridge is not hot à not good to eat.

– Working without enthusiasm à not as productive

– No desire for holiness à no will to fight against temptation.

Lukewarmness in spiritual life is “the devil in disguise” (Francis F. Carvajal).

Lukewarmness is the lack of “heat”: that heat is (1) desire for holiness, (2) love for God and divine things, (3) struggle against temptations, and (4) joy and cheerfulness in trying circumstances.

Lukewarmness is not a sin, but it opens the door to all temptations and risks ourselves to fall.

– It gives up without struggling, and then we easily commit venial sins, and then mortal sins.

– It is also against the teaching of Jesus: He never accepts us to be “part-time” Christians, there is no “neutral state” in our faith. “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” – Mt 12:30. 

– It triggers the love for easiness and love for one’s self rather than the cross and the divinity of God – meanwhile Pope Francis call for the youth to get out of their comfort zones. 

Signs of lukewarmness: 

– Decreasing effort in going to Mass, receiving Holy Communion, praying and doing Apostolates; trivializing these efforts and doing them routinely.

– Shame and reluctance to go for Confession.

– Showing no effort of corrections of venial sins and self-defects.

– Thinking that one’s self has been holy or overworked, even though he has not.

– Daring not to speak about God and spiritual matters to appropriate people.

How to fight against lukewarmness?

– Humility, ask God for forgiveness; sincerity to go to confession or asking for help from Spiritual Director.

– Desire for holiness, being self-aware about spiritual life by doing daily examination of conscience. Will to fight against venial sins.

– Discipline and mortifications.

– No loss of hope in our Lord when we fail, “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new” (A. Einstein). Calling to mind the communion of Saints and the intercession of Mother Mary. “If you make mistakes, say sorry to God, go for confession, then try again.” (quoted from a friend).

Conclusion: “Life is like riding a bicycle, to keep your balance, you must keep moving” (A. Einstein). Our relationship with God is to cycle up to the top of a mountain to meet Him at the summit – if we don’t move forward, we will fall backward.