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We are hoping the pandemic is nearing its conclusion with the vaccine rolling out in force, so it is fitting to ask a few questions.  Why do have the Mass at all?  Well, Jesus said "Do this in remembrance of me."  But it is also fitting for God to give it to us as a continuation of His Presence, of His Sacrifice, and of His Communion with us.  Plus, it's fitting for us because we are physical and social creatures, and that's how we do important things: in a physical and social way.

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This is kind of where we're at, as we hope that we can be peacemakers at home and abroad.

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Here I share my own testimony, and then breakdown what Lent is Scripturally and how to dive into it.

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So I cheated a little.  It's not so much as a commentary on all these chapters (primarily since they are a smattering of many moral nuggets).  Instead, I focused in on TWO verses!

Romans 12:1-2 

"I appeal to you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.  Do not be conformed to this world but be transformed by the renewal of your mind,"

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We dive into what St. Paul talks about regarding the Jewish people and the coming of Jesus Christ.  The covenant and the promises, etc. were given to the Jews to prepare them for Jesus, but what if they miss Jesus?  St. Paul writes in his sorrow that they still have a special place in salvation history and all they have to do is be received by the Lord.

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Howdy ya'll.  We dive into chapters 6-8.  Chapter 6 talks about our entrance into Christ's death and resurrection through Baptism.  Chapter 7 address our fight for the fulfillment of our sanctification (flesh vs spirit, the power of sin, Paul's own battle).  Chapter 8 gets into the fulfillment of all this in glorification, in our sonship, in reception of the Holy Spirit...our glorification even through suffering!

Some people use the end of chapter 8 to claim "once saved, always saved."  This attitude takes it out of context, simply because we know of the real fight there is, as was clarified in the preceding chapter.  St. Paul himself says "work out your salvation in fear in trembling" (Phil 2:12), presumably because you can lose it.  In 2 Peter 2:20, we learn that people who enter into the life of Christ and then depart from it end up worse than how they started.  The only purpose of saying this is if it was possible.  I didn't mention in the podcast, but we could also note that St. John says that "some sin is mortal" (or deadly, depending on the translation).

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I love this stuff.  Here, we take a deeper look at chapters 4 and 5.  St. Paul unwinds what is meant by justification and discusses the importance of faith for justification.  It's important to look at his example of our Father in Faith, Abraham, as well as the parallel between the Old Adam and the New Adam, who is Jesus Christ.  By justification, we pass from the slavery, sin, and death of the Old Adam to the freedom, grace, and life of Jesus Christ.  I love this stuff.

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Here we take a deep dive into Romans 3:21-26.  In many way, this is the everything.  It is beautiful in its simplicity (we are justified in Jesus redemption by faith) and really awesome in its theological exploration of what is meant by redemption, expiation, justification, faith, etc.

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Here, we walk through the next chunk of St. Paul (1:18-3:20).  Both gentiles and Jews are equally accountable for their lack of covenantal fidelity, gentiles in accord with the revelation of God's presence and decrees as observable in nature, Jews in accordance with the Law received by Moses.  In the face of God's righteousness (covenantal fidelity), our infidelity is not negligible.  God help us!  And indeed He does.  We'll get into that in #3.

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We are starting a new commentary!  The Gospel is the power of God for salvation.  With some introductory comments, I then get into Paul's zeal for his Gospel mission.  I define the righteousness of God as His covenantal fidelity.  I explain more about the definition of the Gospel, as well.  God bless!