In recovery, Step 1 is to admit our powerlessness over our addiction and the unmanageability of our lives. This aligns with Paul’s warning that, without the Spirit of God, we remain enslaved to the works of the flesh. Spiritual sickness manifests in drinking bouts, anger, envy, and selfishness, pulling us further away from the Kingdom of God. The warning is clear: those who remain bound by these behaviors will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Even in the rooms of AA, I had to part ways with some fellows because, although they weren’t drinking, their actions were leading to a life of destruction through perverse conversations, lust, materialism, and worldly pursuits. I was tempted by such conversations and behaviors, and I realized that I needed to part with them to prevent being led back into enslavement. It was a reminder that sobriety is not just about what we stop doing but how we choose to live in every area of our lives.

Through the Twelve Steps and Catholic in Recovery, we invite Jesus into our recovery, finding true and lasting freedom not just from addictions, compulsions, and unhealthy attachments but all the works of the “flesh.” Paul contrasts the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, faithfulness, and self-control—with the destructive works of the flesh. In a similar manner, when we embrace the true heart of recovery, which goes beyond merely being sober or abstinent, we come to experience the fruits of the Spirit listed by Paul. By surrendering and allowing Christ to reign in our lives, we experience a new freedom, a new happiness, and a new life led by the Spirit of God.

Reflection Questions

• What works of the flesh are you still clinging to? How can you invite Jesus to break these bonds and replace them with the works of the Spirit?
• In what ways have you experienced the freedom of living in the Spirit as you’ve worked your 12-step program?

Daily Mass Readings

First Reading: Galatians 5:18-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 AND 6
Gospel: Luke 11:42-46

Reflection by Juan Carlos P.