Romans 15: 7-13 Welcome One Another!

Romans 15:7-13 Welcome One Another!

[7] Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. [8] For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, [9] and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, "Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name"; [10] and again he says, "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people"; [11] and again, "Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him"; [12] and again Isaiah says, "The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles; in him the Gentiles shall hope." [13] May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.


What is happening in this scripture? – This, of course, is part of Paul’s letter to the churches of Rome during their early days. There was much persecution, disagreement, unrest and danger for the small groups meeting in Rome and its surrounding towns. Paul is the great unifier, challenging the Greeks, Jews, Roman citizens who have joined these groups, and others to focus on the grace and hope of Christ, not on their historical or traditional differences. This is Paul at his very best, and the language is powerful and profound. In verse 13 is a beautiful and inspiring benedictory verse: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

How is this happening in the world today? – Are you as distressed as I am about the all too human conflicts within the churches of today? Is there not enough conflict in the world that the very organization designed to bring justice, hope and unity to the world needs to be torn asunder or to polarize into Pharasaic groups who interpret whether we should open our eggs from the top or the bottom, like the people in Gulliver’s Travels?

Let us be reminded by one of our most fervent and courageous saints, to
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
Christ’s church is faced now, more than ever with challenges on every side. If we allow our human penchant for nit-picking and bigotry to weaken us further, we refuse to accept the grace and hope and joy and peace that God is offering to us. May we stay centered in the role model Jesus set before us, welcoming all to his communion. As the angel of the Lord said in Bethlehem. Peace on earth! Good will to men on whom his favor rests!

Let it be so, Lord!-RSP