Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
The excerpts from Paul’s letter to the Romans begin in a very dark place. In them, Paul tells us that it was through one man’s sin that death not only entered the world for him but for all of us. Just like him, we all sin. And just like him, we all will die. It’s a bleak opening, to be sure. And it’s one that we know is true. We all sin. And we all will die.
But the letter continues. And it does so in an extraordinary way. As it reminds us again and again of that one man’s sin, our sin, and the death that follows necessarily from both, it also exhorts us to remember that the gift of grace that we receive through Jesus Christ overflows for all of us. Through it, we are all acquitted. Through it, we are all given life, even eternal life.
Through one man, sin and death entered the world and will always be a part of our lives. But through Jesus, we all receive a grace that is overflowing.
Importantly, things are not even here. It is not the case that one man brought sin and death into the world and the other brought forgiveness and grace. Instead, it is the case that one brought sin and death, and the other brought an abundance of grace, acquittal for all, grace overflowing, eternal life. The scales are not even. There surely is sin and death on the one side. But on the other is unfathomable, infinite, overflowing grace, and life—even eternal life.
What if we were to read Paul’s letter to the Romans as if it were addressed to us? What if we were to take absolutely seriously the idea that as much as there is sin and death in our lives, grace and life are the even greater part of our lives? What if we were to live into the reality that we are justified in Christ, reconciled to God, gifted with the fullness of life?
Of course, we would still know that darkness is all about us. There is no escaping that. But we would also know that so much more important than that is the fact that the Kingdom is also right here and right now. Moreover, unlike the scene of all that darkness around us, it overflows with an abundance of grace, love, forgiveness, and life.
We live in a time of great division, much distrust, and a whole lot of hatred. Too rarely do we hear a word of grace, mercy, or forgiveness. To be stingy seems something of a badge of honor these days. While all that darkness is very real, Paul’s letter reminds us that there is something even more real. And that is the grace and mercy of the Kingdom. And if we can embrace that truth, then perhaps we can be counter evidence to the untruth of animosity and division and hatred.
So, my prayer today is that we would receive Paul’s letter as addressed directly to us. May we embrace the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ such that it fills us to overflowing and makes us true citizens of the Kingdom and His agents of grace and peace in this broken world. Amen.
- Sue Trollinger