This week we begin to take a look at one of the greatest books of the New Testament and certainly one of St. Paul's most extensive writings on Christian Faith. This letter to the Romans has special merit for theologians and Catholics in that it was the writings of Romans that brought Augustine to his conversion experience. St. Paul wrote this book from the city of Corinth while on his third missionary journey between 56 and 58 A.D. This letter reveals St. Paul's intention to visit the Christians of Rome and his desire to communicate to them God's grace.
It is St. Paul's intention to reveal himself in his true character as a servant of Christ not merely one who holds an office but on the contrary one who is a bond slave to Christ. This reveals his personhood and his soul rather than his office of an Apostle. Sometimes in the busyness of our titles we can forget our primary role is one who serves the master. His willingness to be a servant was the true greatness that exemplified the work and life of St. Paul. Unlike most of the writers of the New Testament Paul had much to boast of in his lineage and his education. But his ultimate source of greatness was that he was a servant of the Most High God. We have a great deal of people today who think they are in control of their own lives and sad to say there are many Christians who feel that the other six days of the week are in their control. St. Paul tells the Corinthians that they are not in control of their own life but they have been bought with a price. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, which you have from God? You are not your own; you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body." (1 Cor. 6:19-20) The servant/slave has a primary objective it is to serve his master only. And all that the servant does is under the guidance and authority of the master. Although we are servants Jesus calls us friends, a bride, and even a royal priesthood according to St. Peter. "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, that you may declare the wonderful deeds of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light." (1 Pet. 2:9)
St. Paul was an individual who had a clear call of God on his life. For he was truly an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. An Apostle is an ambassador which means one who has been sent. As we know today with our modern day ambassadors these are individuals who have the responsibility of representing their country and the intentions of their leadership. St. Paul as an ambassador and one who has been sent out by Jesus has the responsibility to express the values of Heaven and It's creator. Paul thought it to be of a high value and privilege to represent Jesus as his ambassador on earth. We too like Paul have been called by God ambassadors through St. Paul in his writings to the Corinthians. "So we are ambassadors for Christ, God making His appeal through us. We beseech you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God." (2 Cor. 5:20)
St. Paul makes it clear as to why he was sent and what he was to represent and the message he was to declare. This message was the good news of God's Son. Not only was this good news it had been planned and prophesied by the prophets and even King David himself. And that it was prepared before the foundations of the world. "So then you are no longer strangers and sojourners, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built into it for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit." (Eph. 2:19-22)
His servants and yours,
Gerard & Yolanda Cleffi Directors
Oratory of Divine Love
God, who is humbly our love and so majestically our Lord, is unchangeably Lord and Love. He Himself has said: I am God, and I change not." How indeed could He change? He can gain nothing, who is infinite Perfection; He can lose nothing, who is supreme Lord. His creative power determines, before things are, that they shall be; and that same power marks out the limits of existing things, determining when they that now are shall no longer be.
Walter Farrell, O.P., S.T.M., Martin J. Healy, S.T.D., My Way of Life, Brooklyn, NY, Confraternity of the Precious Blood, Pgs.14-15
Let us pray God, for those who are not Christians; for the conversion of Atheists, the ungodly; for all Jews and Gentiles; For all Christians; for restoration of all who languish in errors and sins; for confirmation of all who have been granted truth and grace; for succour and comfort of all who are dispirited, infirmed, distressed, unsettled, men and women. Amen.
John Henry Newman, Prayers, Verses And Devotions, San Francisco, Ignatius Press, Pg.38