Chapter fourteen begins with what seems to be a dispute within the community. It does not seem like a huge problem, but something Paul feels necessary to address. Some people feel the need to fast and others do not. Either way, Paul says we do not pass judgement on each other weather others fast or not. Paul says in verse six, “…whoever eats, eats for the Lord, since He gives thanks to God: while whoever abstains, abstains for the Lord and gives thanks to God”. Some people pray and discern that God is calling them to fasting, and that is good. If not, then give praise to God for the food God gives you, that is why we pray before meals. This applies to any other act of devotion as far as the Church is concerned. Some pray the rosary, others have a devotion to the Sacred Heart, still others spend much time in adoration. There are many ways to express our devotion to Our Lord Jesus. God designed us in many ways, to be different signs of God and different lights to the world. However, God calls us to serve Him so that others can experience His goodness is ultimately a good. Continue reading “Bible, Romans #19”
Bible, Romans #17
Chapter twelve continues with making sure we live soberly, and also that we view ourselves soberly (v3). So many of us worry about what others may think of us. We get so concerned that it can start to rule our lives. When this happens, we give others power over our lives. We can easily be thrown into an emotional roller-coaster ride every minute of the day. We come across one person who affirms us and we are fine, then one person comes across and expresses disapproval and we are crushed. We look for security in whether people like us rather than if God likes us. Continue reading “Bible, Romans #17”
Bible, Romans #16
Chapter eleven challenges both Jews and Gentiles. God will graft into His fold whomever He chooses, according to the faith they live. Neither should be “haughty” (v20) over the other because they have been chosen by God. They can lose it on account of losing their faith. We too should be careful about being prideful of our faith. Sometimes we can think ourselves better than the other and assume our salvation. Continue reading “Bible, Romans #16”
Bible: Romans #15
Chapter 10 of Romans begins with Paul’s desire for the salvation of anyone who would listen. Yet there must be a discernment. It seems people were trying to tell God what to do. It is Jesus who judges us, not we who judge him. We have to play by God’s standards, it is not God who has to play by our standards. Continue reading “Bible: Romans #15”
Bible: Romans #14
Chapter nine shares Paul’s sorrow that many Israelites will not make it to heaven. He goes on to explain that the heritage of Abraham was not meant through bloodline or DNA, but by God calling us as chosen children of God. Being a child of God is not something we made happen. God offered this freely, and we have a choice to accept this gift or not. Continue reading “Bible: Romans #14”
Bible: Romans #13
From Verse 13 on, in Chapter 7 of Romans, Paul talks about how he hates the sin he does. The law made him aware of the sinfulness of his actions and the suffering it causes him and others. He now hates it, but has not yet gained the habit of changing these actions. Paul states, “What I do, I do not understand. For I do not do want I want, but I do what I hate” (v15). Continue reading “Bible: Romans #13”
Month of the Holy Rosary
October is known as the Month of the Holy Rosary. This tradition was promoted by the Blessed Virgin Mary in the apparitions of Our Lady of Fatima. She wanted everybody to pray the Rosary for peace. At the time when the three children saw the Blessed Virgin, World War I, also known as the Great War, was in full swing. Our Lady predicted the end of the war through people praying the Rosary. She said that the Rosary had the power to end wars. But she did not just predict that the Great War would end, she said that it would end soon, but if the people did not repent, there would be an even more devastating world war to follow. Continue reading “Month of the Holy Rosary”
Bible: Romans #12
Paul makes what seems to be an odd comparison with the law of God and the laws of marriage. Again, there is a logic to Paul’s thinking that is different than how we would think or make a comparison.
He starts off writing about how a woman is bound by the law to remain chaste with other men because of the laws of marriage, but when her husband dies, she is free to be courted by another man. While she is married, she is bound by the laws of marriage to remain faithful, but when ‘death do us part’ comes along, as is implicated in the vows of marriage, the law is no longer imposed on her. (So her husband is now dead to her, for he in fact is dead physically) In a similar way, when we die to sin, sin becomes dead to us. Since sin is now dead and we no longer have to obey the laws of sin, we are now free to live for God. When we are baptized, that is the moment in our lives when we are supposed to live our life for Jesus. The old life of sin is symbolized in the husband that died and Jesus is the new husband for whom we are now living. This is what is supposed to happen, but many times we want the old husband back, preferring the one who is bad for us and forsaking the good husband who is Jesus. Sin should be dead to us, not even a desire. Continue reading “Bible: Romans #12”
Bible: Romans #11
In Chapter Six, Paul poses the dilemma of sin and its effects, and living righteously and its effects. Right before this chapter, Paul says that grace abounds all the more when sin is present. He knows some people might want to take the easy way out and say, “then it is ok to sin, because grace just keeps coming and makes my bad actions null and void. I can do anything I want.” Not. Paul refutes this thought by stating, “What then shall we say? Shall we persist in sin that grace may bound all the more? Of course not!” (v1). When we follow Jesus, sin itself should be dead in our hearts and, therefore, should not even be a desire. This happens when we consider sin as dead. It has no life and brings no life. It takes a certain dying to self, because some of our sins we like too much. We all have our attachments to things or actions we take. Continue reading “Bible: Romans #11”
Bible: Romans #9
Chapter Four of the Letter to the Romans deals with the issue of circumcision, one of the main issues of the letter. Paul is likening works with the flesh, the law, and therefore, condemnation, while faith is spiritual and deals with justification, righteousness and ultimately salvation. Continue reading “Bible: Romans #9”