Word to the Wise
Tuesday, October 17, 2023 - Tuesday in the 28th Week in Ordinary Time
[Rom 1:16-25 and Luke 11:37-41,1092]I am not ashamed of the Gospel. It is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: for Jew first, and then Greek. For in it is revealed the righteousness of God from faith to faith; as it is written, "The one who is righteous by faith will live." [Romans]
OCTOBER 17 ST. IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH
The last line of the quotation above from St. Paul's Letter to the Romans is arguably one of the most influential in Christian history because it galvanized an Augustinian friar in Germany to nail a set of "theses" to the door of the cathedral in Wurtemburg , Martin Luther! (Another catalyst was the preaching on indulgences being done by a Dominican friar in the neighborhood, John Tetzel, OP.) Luther was known to be scrupulous about his soul and salvation. He reacted to the idea that one might "buy" one's way into heaven by paying for an indulgence or simply by "earning it." The state of the institutional church at that time was terrible and was perfect tinder for the spark of Luther's protest. The Protestant Reformation was the result of that fire.
Catholic teaching on indulgences is a subject for another day. The Letter to the Romans will provide the first scripture for the next few days. The opening verses are thunderous about the revelation of God in all creation and the refusal of people to see God's existence and believe in it, choosing idolatry and hedonistic life instead. What saves a person is faith in God, and particularly God has offered salvation in the person of Jesus Christ. The Old Testament has led to the revelation in Christ for all to come to faith: "Jews first, then Greeks."
We can easily take faith for granted if we live a good life. But when misfortunes come and we begin to wonder WHY? it is then that we are confronted with faith and its power. The Letter to the Romans will give us ample opportunity to think about this. Stay tuned! AMEN