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 11th - 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.
