Word to the Wise
Wednesday, October 14, 2015 - Wednesday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 2:1-11 and Luke 11:42-46]Or do you hold his priceless kindness, forbearance, and patiencein low esteem, unaware that the kindness of God would lead you to repentance? [Romans]
Today's first scripture from Romans provides us with the reason for reading the whole epistle. The daily scriptures are on a two-year cycle. Some of the Letter to the Romans is read in each of those two cycles. The result is a kind of cut and paste exposure to a profound work. In the case of this day's passage, the context is lost. That context is Paul's general denunciation of idolatry, which would have included the polytheistic religious climate of Rome and its attendant lifestyle at the time. This fills the verses from Romans 1:18-32. Today's reading picks up at the beginning of Chapter 2, in which Paul turns on those who pass judgment without examining their own consciences.
He does not mince words and the whole thing comes across as a thunderous pulpit-pounding warning about final judgment on Jew and Greek alike. Those who live according to God's commands will have "glory, honor and peace." Those who do not will experience "affliction and distress." The important thing to note is that God would want everyone to come to repentance, whether Jew or Greek. As Paul says, "There is no partiality with God." All of this is leading toward a consideration of the role of the Mosaic Law in helping people to live a life pleasing to God. Keep reading! AMEN
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