RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECKONED TO US
The
fourth chapter of the Letter to the Romans draws to a close. Paul
finishes his argument on faith being the harbinger of salvation by
including us in what has been promised to Abraham. This outlines Paul’s
understanding of faith and how it relates to our lives. It is a very
clever argument that paves the way for the Gospel to be proclaimed to
the Gentiles as well as the Jews. Paul makes it abundantly clear that
the means by which we acquire salvation is by receiving it as a gift
from God through faith.
The strength of faith can be demonstrated by looking at the lives of
countless men and women who faced adversity and overcame them by
trusting in God. Paul tells us that this is evident in Abraham’s
eventual acceptance that Sarah, his wife, would bear him a son even
though she was beyond childbearing age. Again and again, in the history
of God’s work with His people, we discover miraculous births and various
interventions from Him. All we have to do is make ourselves available
to the work of God’s grace through faith and it is God who will
evangelize the multitude.
The saints are great examples of inspiration. They stand as beacons on
top of the hill, encouraging us to move forward and allow God to use us
for His purposes. In this we will discover a life of fulfillment and
grace. If we only look to the promises of the world and what it offers,
we will not find the fulfillment that only God can bring.
We all have to make a choice: Who will we install as Lord of our lives —
is it God or the things of the world? Let us allow God to reckon us as
righteous by placing our faith and trust in Him. Fr. Steve Tynan, MGL
REFLECTION
QUESTIONS: Is Jesus truly the Lord of your life? Do you surrender your
dreams to Him and ask Him to purify them and give back only those that
really matter?
Father
in heaven, You have sent Jesus to redeem us and show us the path of
eternal life. Help me to entrust my life to Your care, knowing that You
have my best interests at heart.
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