Even though Paul speaks of "adoption," (see Rom 8:15; Gal 4:5), he does so only to distinguish it from the status of natural son which applies solely to the only Son of God.

    Ours is not a juridical relationship with the Father as would be that of adopted children, but something substantial which changes our very nature, as if by a new birth. This is so because all our life is animated by a new principle, by a new spirit which is the very Spirit of God.

    This Word speaks of something that has to do with our life as Christians, into which the Spirit of Jesus introduces a dynamics, a tension which Paul condenses in the contraposition between flesh and spirit. By the word flesh, he intends the whole person (body and soul) with all his or her fundamental fragility and selfishness which are constantly battling with the law of love, indeed, with Love itself which was poured into our hearts (see Rom 5:5).

    In fact, those who are led by the Spirit everyday must "compete well for the faith" (1 Tim 6:12) in order to curb all the inclinations to evil, and to live in accordance with the faith professed in baptism.

    But how?

    We know that for the Spirit to act in us, we need to do our part. In writing these words, St. Paul had in mind, above all, a certain duty that we have as Christians, that of denying ourselves, and fighting against selfishness in all its forms.

    It is this dying to ourselves that produces life, so that every cut, every pruning, every no to our selfishness is the source of new light, peace, joy, love, inner freedom; it’s an open door to the Spirit.

    How can we live this Word of Life?

    Above all we have to become increasingly aware of the presence of the Holy Spirit within us. In the depths of our being is an immense treasure but we are not as conscious of it as we could be. We possess an extraordinary richness but, for the most part, it lies unused.

    Furthermore, in order to hear and follow his voice, we have to say no to everything that is against the will of God and say yes to everything that is his will: no to temptations, with a clear-cut refusal of their allurements; yes to the tasks that God has entrusted to us; yes to loving every neighbor we meet; yes to the trials and difficulties we encounter.

    If we do this the Holy Spirit will guide us, giving our Christian life that flavor, that vigor, that zest, that brightness which naturally goes with it when it is authentic.