Word to the Wise
Monday, October 26, 2015 - Monday in the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 8:12-17 and Luke 13:10-17]The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him. [Romans]
Occasionally my law school education helps me to understand some things. Since I attended a law school that teaches Louisiana law as well as Common Law, and I took the Louisiana bar exam, I had to know the fundamental concepts of Roman law on which Louisiana law is based (along with most nations and Canon Law). Inheritance law in the Roman tradition compelled parents to divide their estate among their children. If they failed to do it in a will, then the law itself would impose a solution. This is called "forced heirship." Disinheritance could only take place according to certain conditions, unlike the Common Law in which a parent could disinherit a child for virtually any reason.
St. Paul was a Roman citizen because he was born and raised in an area that was part of the Roman empire and well-settled by former soldiers and farmers from Rome, which meant that Roman citizenship had been extended to the colony of Cilicia. He was writing to Roman citizens. So, the analogy from Roman law made great sense. If we live according to the Spirit and not according to the flesh, we become children of God. If we are children, then we are heirs - indeed joint heirs with God's only Son. Our salvation is assured if we live according to the model of Christ enabled by the Spirit.
It sounds a bit strange to think that God has to include us in his will, but we have to remember that all analogies limp a bit. It is the assurance of our status as heirs that is meant to comfort. Live like Christ and you're in the will! AMEN
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