Daily Retreat 11/08/07
2007 Nov 8 Thu
Rom 14:7-12/ Ps 26(27):1bcde. 4. 13-14/ Lk 15:1-10
From today’s readings: “For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.... I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.... There will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance....”
We are the Lord's!
To call Jesus “Lord” is more than just to extend Him a genteel title of respect, like “Sir.” Rather, to name Jesus “Lord” is to recognize His personal authority and dominance in our lives! St. Paul explains how inclusive is His sovereignty: “None of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's!”
This means, of course, that we are slaves to no man - no one but God has absolute authority over us. However, that also means that we have absolute authority over no one (not even ourselves!). And that leaves no justification for you and me to judge or look with disdain on others, for to do so would be to usurp the authority of God Himself.
To put this more in context, read vv. 1-6 and 13-23 of this chapter 14. Those verses are omitted from the lectionary probably because they discuss a rather complicated matter which would be almost hopeless to sort out without recourse to re-reading and reviewing Paul’s line of thought in all of the chapter. Basically, the problem was between Christians who recognized completely that Christ superceded the Old Law (include the various dietary restrictions), and other Christians who, without necessarily undervaluing their faith in Christ, still felt bound in conscience to such prescriptions of the Old Law. Both parties were guilty of passing judgment on each other -- Paul concedes that both sides do have a point, but he insists that, rather than preoccupying ourselves with perceived shortcomings of others, we should focus on the sobering reminder that "each of us shall give an account of himself to God."
Rom 14:7-12/ Ps 26(27):1bcde. 4. 13-14/ Lk 15:1-10
From today’s readings: “For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.... I believe that I shall see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.... There will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance....”
We are the Lord's!
To call Jesus “Lord” is more than just to extend Him a genteel title of respect, like “Sir.” Rather, to name Jesus “Lord” is to recognize His personal authority and dominance in our lives! St. Paul explains how inclusive is His sovereignty: “None of us lives for himself, and no one dies for himself. For if we live, we live for the Lord, and if we die, we die for the Lord; so then, whether we live or die, we are the Lord's!”
This means, of course, that we are slaves to no man - no one but God has absolute authority over us. However, that also means that we have absolute authority over no one (not even ourselves!). And that leaves no justification for you and me to judge or look with disdain on others, for to do so would be to usurp the authority of God Himself.
To put this more in context, read vv. 1-6 and 13-23 of this chapter 14. Those verses are omitted from the lectionary probably because they discuss a rather complicated matter which would be almost hopeless to sort out without recourse to re-reading and reviewing Paul’s line of thought in all of the chapter. Basically, the problem was between Christians who recognized completely that Christ superceded the Old Law (include the various dietary restrictions), and other Christians who, without necessarily undervaluing their faith in Christ, still felt bound in conscience to such prescriptions of the Old Law. Both parties were guilty of passing judgment on each other -- Paul concedes that both sides do have a point, but he insists that, rather than preoccupying ourselves with perceived shortcomings of others, we should focus on the sobering reminder that "each of us shall give an account of himself to God."
posted by FrPitstick | 11/07/2007
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