St. Paul today speaks of the “old self” and the “new self.” Through baptism, we are made a new creation—adopted by God and reborn as His beloved children. This transformation is not simply a matter of joining an association or taking on a new label; it is a change in the very core of our being.
To live this new life means that our attention shifts from the concerns of the world to the things of God. Today and tomorrow, Paul will offer us very concrete examples of what this looks like in practice.
It is easy, however, to fixate only on the list of things to avoid in today’s reading. Human nature tends to respond with: “I will try harder not to do these things.” But Christian life is not merely about willpower or avoiding sin. It is first and foremost about relationship—walking daily in the ways of Christ.
When Christ is the foundation of our lives, His grace strengthens us to live in love with Him. In that love, the old patterns of behavior naturally fall away. On the other hand, when we find ourselves slipping back into the “old self,” it is usually because we have placed ourselves at the center, relying on our own strength or clinging to worldly ways instead of trusting the Lord.
Let us renew our focus today: to walk as beloved sons and daughters of God, rooted in Christ, who alone gives us the power to live in the freedom of the new self.
Living in Love with God 
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