Word to the Wise
Monday, October 14, 2019 - Monday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 1:1-7 and Luke 11:29-32]Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, 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. [Rpmans]
These words open one of the most important books of the Bible, St. Paul's Letter to the Romans. Scripture scholars date it to a period between 55 and 59 A.D., which would be about 25 years or so after the death and resurrection of Jesus. Along with Galatians and First and Second Corinthians, it is regarded as one of the most important of Paul's writings, but also as one of the most important documents in Christian theology.
This letter will form the first scriptures for daily Mass for the next few days and I invite the Beloved Congregation to read the whole thing to avoid some of the inevitable gaps caused by the Lectionary editing.
The Letter to the Romans had its own particular context in that it was addressed to a mixed community of Gentiles and Jewish converts. The pre-occupation of Paul in this letter (Chaps 9-11) with the position of the Jews in the light of Jesus' death and resurrection shows his concern for them, possibly because there may have been disputes between the two kinds of converts. /we should remember that Paul was a Pharisaic Jew before his conversion. His concern is ours now because of recent attacks on synagogues around the world. What is also of concern is the direct challenge of the "obedience of faith" and the centrality of faith in Christian life. Faith is not a vague sentiment enculturated in us but a power that comes from our baptism, as we shall see in Romans! The fact that scripture scholars all over the Christian world still study this letter over and over again should alert us to do our own reflection to see what the Holy Spirit was inspiring. AMEN