PAUL’S  LETTER TO THE ROMANS

INTRODUCTION

The title of my homily is, “Paul’s Letter to the Romans.”

We began hearing the opening words of Romans yesterday - but I didn’t say anything about it - because it was the feast of St. Gerard. Today however, I simply want to give a few opening comments about Paul’s Letter to Romans in general because we’ll have it more or less for 4 weeks - October 15 till November 11^th - as our first reading.

It is not used when we have the feasts of St. Luke and the apostles Simon and Jude - as well as All Saints Day - but we can use a segment for All Soul’s Day.

ROMANS' GREAT THEME

The great theme of Romans is that Jesus Christ saves us. We don’t do it by  keeping the Law - or by what we do - by our works -  even though they are important - but we are saved by Jesus Christ.

Jesus is the one who knocked Paul on his face on the road to Damascus.

Jesus is the one who Paul was persecuting - in going after the Christians.

Jesus is the one who challenges Paul to conversion and to change.

Human beings try to save themselves by getting circumcised, keeping the Law and the calendar feasts of Judaism, but Paul found out in a dramactic way - we can be saved - not by ourselves - but by faith in Jesus Christ.

By hearing Romans we’ll hear various other nuances of that theme - but we better hear, understand and accept this theme loud and clear.

Like this is one big room - and the most important person in this room - is Jesus Christ.

ROMANS

Different folks date the Letter to the Romans at different times. I like Joseph Fitzmyer, S.J.’s date of 57-58.

He has just about finished his work in eastern part of the Mediterranean - and now he’s heading West - for Rome and Spain.

Part of the Appian Way to Rome

He has not been to Rome yet - where he will die.

Fitzmyer didn’t think Peter was there yet - but he too will die there.

He doesn’t know any of the people in Rome - but we’ll hear about 30 names in the last chapter of Romans - 16.

Paul is thought to be the author of Romans  - with some questions about the last chapter.

COMMENTARIES AND USED BY

The Letter to the Romans is a must read for Christians.

Joseph Fitzmyer in his comments about Romans in the New Jerusalem Biblical Commentary says, “Romans has affected later Christian theology, more than any other New Testament book.” [page 832]

Early Christian writers like Clement, Ignatius of Antioch [whose feast we celebrate today], Polycarp and Justin all use him. We can keep on adding names to that list.

Then there are the commentaries by  Calvin,  Luther, Barth, Rahner and various others,

CONCLUSION

So don’t just sit back and listen to Romans at Daily Mass in the next 4 weeks. Pray with key thoughts about life in and with Jesus. Hear Paul tell about the struggles we all go through - with Jesus there to help and save us. Amen.