Today’s other readings are Psalm 1 and Lk. 12:49-53
I must confess that one of my least favourite books of the Bible is St. Paul’s letter to the Romans. Throughout this letter, Paul speaks in very theological terms and employs phrases and ideas that are often challenging to comprehend. But despite my complaints, it is also a letter of great magnitude and importance.
In our reading today, Paul describes and divides human beings in two types – those who are slaves to sin, and those who are slaves of God. For those enslaved to sin, the end result is death – eternal death – in hell.
For those who are slaves to God, they are freed from sin and as a result are sanctified. For these, their end is eternal life in heaven.
Paul is quite blunt in this passage – if you chose a life of sin, then expect hell. If a chose a life of righteousness and faith, look forward to eternal life. And Paul couldn't be any clearer than that.