Bible Study on Romans Session 22

Saint Paul’s Letter to the Romans;

A Bible Study Based upon the Homilies of St John Chrysostom (SJC)

Study Guide – November 26, 2019 – Romans 12.4-13 – Homily 21

Prayer before reading of the Holy Scriptures: Shine within our hearts, loving Master, the pure light of Your divine knowledge, and open the eyes of our minds that we may comprehend the message of Your Gospel. Instill in us also reverence for Your blessed commandments so that, having conquered sinful desires, we may pursue a spiritual life, thinking and doing all those things which are pleasing to You. For You, Christ our God, are the light of our souls and bodies, and to You we give glory, together with Your Father who is without beginning and Your all holy, good and life giving Spirit, always now and forever and to the ages of ages.

Chapter 12, Verse 4-8

  • Being all one body means that all deserve equal honor. SJC “Therefore, since we are in the last analysis one body and members of one another, why do you set yourself apart from the others by your arrogance? Why are you ashamed of your brother? For just as he is one of your members, so are you one of his.” (Pg 1, #2)
  • No reason to be haughty since all gifts are from God. SJC “You did not take it nor did you find it. Therefore, when Paul is speaking of the charismatic gifts, he did not say: “This man received a greater gift; that man received a lesser one.” What did he say? He called the gifts “different.” (Pg 1, #3)
  • Paul urges us to use the gifts given to us by God. SJC “For even if it is a gift of grace, it is not simply poured forth, but takes its measure from those who are receiving it and pours out as much as it finds the vessel of faith capable of holding. Or if it be the gift of ministry, use it for service.” In this term Paul includes the entire scope of the charismas. For the apostolate is called a ministry, and every spiritual work is ministry. It is also a name for a special service, but Paul uses it here in an all-embracing sense.” (Pg 2, #7-8)
  • Just doing something isn’t enough. SJC “For the giving is not enough; we must give generously. For he knew that in all cases liberality included generosity. The virgins had oil, but since they did not have enough, they were excluded from the entire wedding feast. … We must do them generously and with a cheerful spirit. We must perform them not only with an ungrudging spirit, but also with a spirit which is cheerful and radiant with joy. An act done grudgingly is not the same as one done with joy.” (Pg 2, #9-10)
  • We must have a generous intention. SJC “Ask the widow, and you will hear how this is done. You will learn that it is not poverty that makes a pauper, but free will that causes one to be destitute or quite the opposite. For it is possible to be generous even when you are poor, and to be mean-minded and penurious even when you are rich.” (Pg 3, #15)
  • It isn’t just about money. SJC “For Paul does not wish us to come to the aid of those in need with money alone. We must help and minister with words, and deeds, in person, and in every other way.” (Pg 3, #16)
  • Genuine love produces Christian character. SJC “If you have this kind of love, you will not notice your expenditure of money, your bodily toil, your labor in speaking, nor the sweat your service involves. You will endure them with the courage which befits you, whether your ministry takes toll of your body, your wealth, your words of exhortation, or anything else which helping your neighbor requires.” (Pg 3, #18)
  • Avoiding evil isn’t enough. We must HATE evil. SJC “He does not say just to refrain from evil but to hate it; not only to hate it but to detest it. … He wishes us to consider vice and evil as enemies whom we hate and against whom we constantly wage war. … This law would make you a stranger not only to the evil deed but even to any disposition toward vice. You must not only be a stranger to such a disposition, but you must have an excessive aversion and hatred for it.” (Pg 4, #21-22)

Chapter 12, Verse 9-13

  • We are all brothers and sisters because we were born from the same womb. ie Baptismal Font
  • Paul urges us to love others before they love us. SJC “So do not wait to be loved by another. Do you yourself take the first step and begin to show your love. In this way, you will reap the reward of your fellow Christian’s love and friendship.” (Pg 4-5, #25)
  • Our actions toward others are passed on to the Lord. (Pg. 5, #31)
  • When you hope in the future life, you learn to be patient and endure tribulation. SJC “Before the blessings of the future life, you will reap a great benefit in this world from tribulation, namely, you will become patient and approved. … Therefore, love makes things easy, the Spirit lends aid, hope makes tasks light, and tribulation makes you approved and ready to endure all things with generosity and nobility. When you have, along with these, another mighty weapon, namely, prayer and the assistance prayer brings, what, then, can be burdensome in the services and ministries which Paul enjoins on you? There is nothing to hinder you from undertaking them.” (Pg. 6, #33-34)
  • Paul teaches that we should pursue hospitality. SJC “Paul does not say “providing,” but, “pursuing” it so as to teach us not to wait for those in need until they come to us, but to run after them and seek them out. This is what Lot did, and Abraham, too. Abraham spent a day waiting for a favorable quarry and, when he saw it, he jumped up and ran to meet [the angels]. He bowed down to the ground and said: “My lord, if I find favor in your sight, do not pass your servant by.” Abraham did not act as we do when we see a stranger or one stricken with poverty.” (Pg 6, #36-37)

Life Application – Follow the Example of Abraham

  • Always remember you are serving Christ “Even though we know clearly that we are receiving Christ, we do not become gentle on that account. Abraham implores, beseeches, and bows to the ground. But we insult those who approach us. And Abraham did all this by himself and his wife Sarah; but we do not show such hospitality even through our servants.” (Pg. 7, #39)
  • It doesn’t matter what they do, they still deserve to eat “Therefore, do not be a busybody about how a man lives or acts. For this is the extreme of ignorance and poor taste to be so officious as to judge an entire life for the sake of a single slice of bread. For if he who asks for alms is a murderer or a robber or whatever, do you think he does not deserve a slice of bread or a small piece of change? Your Master makes the sun rise on him; do you judge him unworthy of a day’s ration of food?” (Pg. 7, #42)
  • Do not turn away from those in need  “Do you have no regard for the law laid down by Christ? By his example be showed that we must not turn away from the poor; we must even accept those who would lead us to death.” (Pg. 8, #46)
  • Weap for those who are against you “Therefore, you must not hate but, rather, weep tears of pity for the enemy who is plotting against you. For such a man deserves our pity and tears. For we are the servants of him who kissed his betrayer–I will never stop constantly repeating this– and spoke words more gentle than his kiss. For Christ did not say: “O you cursed and wicked traitor! Is this the kind of return you make for so many blessings?” (Pg. 8, #48)
  • Avoid hypocrisy “How will you receive the sacred oblation when you have stained your tongue with human blood? How will you give the kiss of peace with a mouth which is gorged with war? How will you enjoy the food you taste when you have collected so much poison? You did not relieve the poor man’s poverty. Why do you grind him down? You did not lift up the poor man who was lying there. Why do you hurl him down again? You did not remove his sorrow. Why do you make it worse? You gave him no money. Why do you insult him with words? Did you not hear what penalty is paid by those who refuse to feed the poor? What penalties will they undergo? “Depart from me into the fire which was prepared for the devil and his angels.”  (Pg. 9, #53)

Send Off – It is time to Live A New Life In Christ!“Not only must we refrain from insulting and outraging the poor, but we must even invite and console them by words and deeds.” (Pg. 9, #55)