St Paul's self-reflection in today's passage from the Letter to the Romans may seem to be somewhat pessimistic or almost fatalistic: he is unable to do the good which he intends but finds himself doing the evil he does not intend. His reflection may, from another aspect, seem even self-justifying, blaming an interior law of evil for his own personal faults and failings. However, by reflecting on his thoughts, we can learn a great deal about our human condition.

The story of Adam's sin in Genesis is a reflection on the human condition and its possible origins. The story is very insightful: basically, original sin meant a breakdown in the harmony in which God created the world and consequently a breakdown in all our important harmonious relationships: the relationships between God and humanity, between male and female, between humanity and nature. Similarly the story of Cain killing his brother Abel shows the breakdown of family and social relationships. Paul reflects on another example of such harmony destroyed: original sin has damaged the interior harmony in our hearts and souls that should make us integrated and congruous persons.