Upcoming Sunday Epistle Readings
Sunday 13 August 2017
Romans 10:5-15
Moses writes concerning the righteousness that comes from the law, that “the person who does these things will live by them.” But the righteousness that comes from faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down) “or ‘Who will descend into the abyss?’” (that is, to bring Christ up from the dead). But what does it say? “The word is near you, on your lips and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, “No one who believes in him will be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.” But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
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This Epistle is packed with topics that will preach. There are three that jump off the page at me in my initial reading.
1. Christ is nearby. Paul goes to great lengths to show the accessibility of Christ. One does not need to seek hard or long to find Jesus. He is in our midst, seeking us out long before we are inclined to seek him. When we remember this, we have the comfort of a hope in Jesus, knowing that as he is near and seeks us, he knows us and can respond to us. And when we respond back, we find salvation as the generous gift of God that enables us to do all things and sustains us at all times. As I think of this, I cannot help but think of the Presiding Bishop speaking to the youth of the Episcopal Church at EYE in Oklahoma City. He challenged our youth with this invitation: “If you want to change the world, follow Jesus.” It isn’t hard to follow Jesus. He is always at our side.
2. There are no distinctions between peoples. Jesus is the Lord of all. Any divisions that have ever been present among us as humans are overcome by Jesus who is truly the Lord of all. His love knows no divisions or boundaries. Jesus seeks out every last person, no matter what labels they wear or that we place upon them.
3. How shall the peoples hear of Jesus if we do not speak of Jesus? Here is a challenge for all the baptized. It is a greater challenge for the baptized who are not ordained. Often we are tempted to reserve the proclamation of the Gospel in which Jesus is made known to those who preach, specifically to bishops, priests and deacons. I have reminded my parishioners often that those who are baptized and who are not ordained have a greater ability to share the Gospel in the world than do we who are clergy. Those in the world expect the clergy of the Church to speak of God. As a result, there is often very little impact in the message of the clergy, and this message can be dismissed because the clergy are somehow seen as different from other people. But when folks who look like the masses speak of Christ and share the Gospel, there can be a greater impact through the sharing of the baptized than the sharing of the ordained. Paul calls the feet of all who share the good news beautiful and invites all who belong to Christ to strive to make Christ known in the world.
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Father Timothy Alleman
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