Paul’s view and reflection on “Love” from his First Letter to the Corinthians bears noting here: “Love is patient, love is kind. It is not jealous, [love] is not pompous, it is not inflated, it is not rude, it does not seek its own interests, it is not quick-tempered, it does not brood over injury, it does not rejoice over wrongdoing but rejoices with the truth. It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things” (1 Corinthians 13: 4-7). The Love to which Paul calls us to surrender is not oppressive and dominating. It is life-giving and self-affirming.

As with so many aspects of thinking and living that get distorted and perverted as addiction takes further hold, our ability to discern spiritual truths and navigate even the most basic tenets of our faith become impossible to perceive. At its root, addiction is primarily a spiritual disease that manifests in the most basic and original of sins—pride. Addiction obscures our ability to see with clarity our own deceptions and shortcomings and impedes our ability to hear the message of redemption calls to us from Scripture, the sacraments, and our brothers and sisters in Christ. Paul’s letter to the Ephesians calls the addict to open his or her eyes to the paradoxical freedom that comes from yielding to a Love that reconciles and heals us, restoring us to our true identities as beloved sons and daughters of God the Father.

Reflection Questions

• How do you hear Paul’s message of submission in today’s reading? Has your understanding of it changed because of recovery?
• How has pride impacted your faith and recovery journeys? How do you mitigate pride’s impact in your daily life?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Ephesians 5:21-33
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Gospel: Luke 13:18-21 

Reflection by Mark L.