Paul writes his letter to the Romans form Corinth. He clearly states the gospel that he preaches. To ease the Jewish-Gen- tile tensions, Paul desires that fellowship cooperation develop in the early church. How does this occur within a community of diverse believers? What has to happen that we view one another in a different light?
Believing, trusting, obeying, hoping, loving—these verbs direct a disciple’s life. God is love. God longs to bless, not pun- ish; to give, rather than take away. The divine nature is always to have mercy—to show hospitality not hostility and to fill our lives with good things.
God’s love cleanses, renews, restores, and forgives. Even though we try our best to follow Jesus’ commandments to love others—even our enemies—we are not always very good at it.
In the law of love, all means all. We have a responsibility to love our neighbors. This means seeing that others are fed, clothed, and housed. Paul reminds us that love is the only law we need. When we open our lives to God’s grace, we catch a glimpse of what love is all about. If God sees something special in us, surely we can see it in others.
The Holy Spirit does not sing a song of revenge. The love that breaks into history in the person of Jesus Christ is full of mercy, forgiveness, and reconciliation. Jesus’ death and resur- rection reveal an ultimate love that bonds faith and life. Noth- ing now, in life or death, can ever separate us from the love of Christ. God is love.
God, help us share your unending love with others by tending to their spiritual and physical needs. Amen.
Exodus 12 provides instructions for keeping the Passover. Yahweh defends those who seek Yahweh’s shelter. In the end, the people stand liberated from all false loyalties and allegiances, and vow allegiance to Yahweh alone. Psalm 149 sounds a strong note of realism. The rule of Yahweh binds Israel to an understanding that the social order must re ect the moral integrity of the world’s ultimate King. The reading from Romans 13 marks a point of transition within Paul’s letter. Paul here urges his readers to trust that faith in Christ makes a difference. Matthew 18 speaks to the importance of trustworthiness in the life of the believing community and provides measures for the restoration of confidence and for reconciliation.
• Read Exodus 12:1-14. In the Passover meal, no one is excluded from the table. Where in your life can you be more inclusive?
• Read Psalm 149. If you wrote a new song to celebrate and recall a “mighty act of God” in your life, what would the song be about?
• Read Romans 13:8-14. Reading these verses of Paul’s letter to the Roman church, how would you de ne your neighbors? Are there neighbors, whether close by or far away, with whom you need a closer connection?
• Read Matthew 18:15-20. When have you spoken privately to a member of your faith community about an offense against you? What was the result?
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