Lent
March 10, 2017
Scripture Reading: Romans 4:1-5, 13-17
For the promise that he would inherit the world did not come to Abraham or to his descendants through the law but through the righteousness of faith. If it is the adherents of the law who are to be the heirs, faith is null and the promise is void. For the law brings wrath; but where there is no law, neither is there violation. –Romans 4:13-15
In their book The First Paul, Borg and Crossan indicate it is not possible to have faith without works. It is possible to have works without faith. Why do we do what we do? The answer to the question matters. The what-is-in-it-for-me discourse requires the establishment of some sort of tit for tat arrangement. God’s call to love our neighbors reflects gifts freely received and freely given.
I once thought our public welfare programs largely served to stifle anarchy. While they were begun During the Great Depression, they were expanded following the riots occurring primarily in inner-cities throughout the country during the 1960’s. Some of the initial programs were very good, designed to help disadvantaged even oppressed citizens move from poverty to self-sufficiency. The War on Poverty quickly turned into structures to prohibit fraud, waste, and abuse. I use to note at the time we fought a war in Vietnam that was never declared and the War on Poverty that was declared but never fought. Both demanded great works neither was necessarily graced by faith.
The history of God is one that welcomes free expression of our love for God. Would you want to be loved by someone forced to love you? Is that even possible? God wants us to love God and out of the abundance of that shared love work toward a world where all know love.
Prayer: Lord we have willing hands and feet to help you in any way we can to make your Kingdom a reality for all your children. Show us the way. Amen.
*The First Paul by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan. Harper One, 2009.