Word to the Wise
Monday, October 12, 2015 - Monday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 1:1-7 and Luke 11:29-32]Paul, a slave of Jesus Christ, called to be an Apostle and set apart for the Gospel of God, which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures, the Gospel about his Son, descended from David, according to the flesh, but established as Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord. [Romans]
That introductory statement opens for us one of the most theologically influential documents in the entire Bible - St. Paul's Letter to the Romans. Some scripture scholars and historians refer to Paul as the second founder of Christianity! That seems an exaggeration to me, but not too big an exaggeration. The Letter to the Romans represents his most mature thinking and teaching. Indeed, the first chapter, a few sentences further on, has a line that set Luther off on his quest to reform the church. "The just man shall live by faith." For the next few days, the first scripture for the day will be coming from Romans to challenge us.
Today's passage is not even a complete sentence (as my English professor Mother would have pointed out to me) but really describes Paul's vision of Christ as the fulfillment of all of God's promises and where Paul fits in God's plan. He is like a narrator in a play who stands off to one side and offers interpretations. We may be able to see what is going on on the stage ourselves, but our understanding is inevitably shaped by what the narrator is saying because the playwright makes the narrator part of the drama. I urge the Beloved congregation to read the entire Letter to the Romans over the next few days so that the pieces offered in the lectionary will make more sense. This letter still shapes much of Catholic theology, and therefore has an impact on our lives. AMEN