We are slaves

Some of us are slaves to our stomachs; some of us are slaves to our physique; some of us are slaves to our imagination; some of us are slaves to other aspects of ourselves; and many of us have multiple masters.

We may think we are free, but we are really enslaved – one way or another.

St. Paul speaks directly to us in today’s first reading (Romans 6:12-18):

Sin must not reign over your mortal bodies
so that you obey their desires.

And do not present the parts of your bodies to sin
as weapons for wickedness,

but present yourselves to God
as raised from the dead to life

and the parts of your bodies to God
as weapons for righteousness....

Freed from sin,
you have become slaves of righteousness.

Thus may we be slaves no longer of the flesh or even of our pride.

May we instead rejoice to be slaves of God.