Word to the Wise
Monday, October 25, 2021 - Monday in the 30th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 8:12-17 and Luke 13:10-17]For those who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received a spirit of adoption, through which we cry, "Abba, Father!" 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]
Many of my Beloved Congregation know that I am a law school graduate at Tulane and took the Louisiana bar exam and was, at least on paper and by paying dues, a member of the bar for 40 years until I formally "retired" at age 70 in 2013. The Louisiana civil law system follows the French system and that is, in turn, based on Roman law. (Canon law also follows the same pattern.) When St. Paul speaks of heirship, he is speaking as a Roman citizen [cf. Acts 22:22-23]. The Romans granted citizenship to certain parts of the empire outside of Rome and the province of Cilicia, where Paul was from was one of those.
Under Roman law, heirship was "forced," i.e. one could not disinherit one's children except for very serious causes. St. Paul, then, speaks of the "spirit of adoption through which we cry, 'Abba, Father.'" He calls us "joint heirs" with Christ, just as any adopted child under Roman law received the same rights as a natural child. This means, as baptized and faithful Christians, we become brothers and sisters of Jesus! But we cannot take this status for granted. It requires fidelity to Christ.
A dear friend of mine speaks of close friendship as "adoption in the heart," and I think in my pastoral experience, I have received many wonderful "heart-adopted" children and grandchildren. I could not "disinherit" them! The profound adoption relationship that comes about through baptism and faith in Christ should give us comfort, We really have to force God to "disinherit" us. I hope none of us try to do that! AMEN