I returned from Nigeria a couple of days ago after the Jubilee of Hope celebration, where our ministry provided food for about 5,000 people. God moved hearts in ways I could never have imagined, and to him alone be the glory. Amen.
Today, as the Church celebrates the memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori, founder of the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer (the Redemptorists), I am reminded of how God uses our human experiences to shape divine missions. Saint Alphonsus, an 18th-century Italian saint, began his career as a lawyer. His sharp legal mind later enriched his theology, helping him articulate profound insights on grace, free will, and conscience. His life reminds us that God often transforms our backgrounds, even our struggles, into instruments for his glory.
Reflecting on his witness, I turn to Romans 8:1–4, where Saint Paul speaks of freedom in Christ and life in the Spirit. Without the Spirit, even the law becomes a burden, mere legalities without life. But by “condemning sin in his flesh,” Christ restored human nature with the grace to fulfill God’s will, which the law could only point toward. The result is that we are called to “live not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.”
What Does It Mean to Live According to the Spirit?
Living according to the Spirit means allowing God’s grace to guide our every thought and action. It means being led by virtue, openness, and the gentle promptings of the Holy Spirit. Here are four ways to embrace this call:
1. Openness to God’s Presence
We receive the Spirit at Baptism and in a special way at Confirmation, but the Spirit’s guidance continues throughout our lives. Living according to the Spirit requires listening, not only in prayer, Scripture, and the sacraments, but also in the quiet nudges of daily life such as a word of advice from a friend, a moment of clarity at work, and an unexpected encounter. The Spirit speaks even in the ordinary. Those who listen and follow the lead shine as lights for others, because wherever the Spirit moves, the glory of God radiates.
2. Conforming to Christ
Saint Paul expresses his desire that believers be formed in the likeness of Christ (Galatians 4:19). This is precisely the Spirit’s work, shaping us into Christ’s image, confirming the truths revealed in him (John 15:26), and guiding, helping, and counseling us (John 14). To live by the Spirit is to walk as Christ walked, letting his life take shape in ours. It also means resting in the certainty of divine embrace and counsel.
3. Freedom from Sin
Another sign of life in the Spirit is freedom from sin. The Catechism (CCC 1989–1995) teaches that grace liberates us from the dominion of sin. Through the Spirit, we abide in God, and abiding in God breaks the chains of sin. This is spiritual freedom, the heart fully committed to God’s promptings rather than the lures of sin. To live according to the Spirit is to reject sin and embrace a new life of righteousness.
4. Bearing the Fruits of the Spirit
Finally, a life in the Spirit produces visible fruits. Galatians 5:22–23 lists some of them: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Just as no one bathes in water without being refreshed, no one truly lives in the Spirit without being transformed. These fruits shine outward, drawing others to God’s light. As Jesus says: “Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father” (Matthew 5:16).
When we live by the Spirit, we do not simply follow rules; we embody Christ. Sometimes, our actions upend the usual ways of things and make the world uncomfortable. Yet, people see the fruits of our lives and many give glory to the Father.
Your light must shine. Let it shine not with human effort alone, but with the radiance of the Spirit living within you.
As I thank God for our ministry team and the local volunteers in Nigeria who allowed the light of the Gospel to shine through them in giving hope to thousands this past month, I pray that we all may continue to live in the Spirit.
To God be the glory. Amen. Saint Alphonsus Liguori, pray for us.
[Readings for the Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Liguori: Romans 8:1-4; Matthew 5:13-19]
