Read Romans 8:8-17
There are many sins
against human dignity, but slavery has to rank among the worst. To consider a
human being as the possession of another; to accept as normal the idea that a
human being should serve another without freedom of thought, movement or will;
to reduce a human being to a shadow of what it means to be human: all of this
is truly a crime against humanity itself.
Unfortunately, slavery
has been part of the human fabric since the beginning of society. In the time
of Jesus, it was an accepted institution, particularly among the Romans and
Greeks. Many of these slaves who lived in a situation of continual fear and
uncertainty were bound to react positively to the message of the Gospel. For
them, the idea that all people had dignity and worth was truly Good News.
Paul contrasts the
situation of the slave with that of the child of a freeborn man. This child is
free, cherished by parents, loved by family, destined to inherit the father’s
wealth. What a contrast with the slave who lives in the same house, yet has no
freedom, is cherished by no one, has no family, is destined to poverty
throughout life.
Paul affirms that
those who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. They do not relate
to God as slaves to a master, but as children to their loving, caring parents.
They know they are protected and cherished. And they are destined to inherit
their Father’s wealth, which is eternal life itself.
The Spirit leads us
out of slavery into freedom. Slavery to whom? Actually, we are slaves to
ourselves: to our passions, our needs, our insecurities and our obsessions.
Paul calls this “the flesh.” It’s a symbol for him of everything that drags us
down and stops us from being truly free.
If we remain enslaved
to “the flesh,” then there is no hope for us: we are doomed to death. If, on
the other hand, we open our hearts to God’s Spirit, leaving behind us the
allure of “the flesh,” then we are promised to life, life to the full, life
without end.
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