God's Promises through Suffering, Mark 8:31-38, Romans 8:31-39

As Jesus begins teaching his disciples directly about his crucifixion, St. Peter rebukes Jesus for thinking that the Messiah must suffer. However, Jesus turns the tables on St. Peter and points out to him and all that we all must suffer and die in light of his own death and resurrection. Through this, we come to know more deeply the love of Christ for us.

Image: The Crucifixion, unknown artist, public domain, from the J. Paul Getty Museum. Image location: https://www.getty.edu/art/collection/object/107TX5#full-artwork-details

Who Shall Separate Us? Romans 8.35-39

This is Father Jeremiah’s sermon from August 9th. In it he finishes up Romans 8 and reveals to us the love of God that we cannot be separated from when we are in Jesus Christ. Draw near to Jesus that you might know the fullness of God the Father’s love in him.

Image: Loved Us to the End, by Lawrence OP. Used under license CC BY-NC-ND 2.0, No Changes Made.

Weakness in Us, Romans 8.26-34

St. Paul continues to direct us to the work of the Spirit in our passage today. Here the Holy Spirit helps us in our weakness and encourages us through his work in us that for those who love God, all things will work together for their good. We are united with Christ and thus he dwells in us and we in him and through the intercession of the Spirit, we are strengthened in our prayers by his work in us. We can have assurance and comfort in this reality as believers. And this even includes our waywardness in the all things when we are drawn back by the love of Christ for us.

Image: Veni Sancte Spiritus, photo taken by Fr. Lawrence Lew, OP, used under license CC BY-NC 2.0, no changes made. Image location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/1103809343

Glory to be Revealed, Romans 8.17-25

As we continue in St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans, Paul considers the glory that is to be revealed for us and how creation itself is yearning for this glory to be revealed. All things will be made new on account of Jesus’ work of redemption, but it is not fully experienced yet. We ourselves yearn in the hope of this transformation of all things including ourselves.

Image: The Most Beautiful Road in the World, by Trey Ratcliff. No changes made. Used under license CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

The Flesh and the Spirit, Romans 8.7-17

In Romans 8.8-17, Paul continues speaking of the conflict between the flesh and the Spirit and how the affects us. We, though we will die in the body, will live because of the Spirit of Christ who dwells in us. Thus we are made children of God by the indwelling of the Spirit that we might live. Paul’s words are an encouragement to us to push forward in this life now because of the blessings that we have received.

Image: St. Paul at Notre Dame, photo taken by Lawrence OP, licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0. No changes made. Location: https://www.flickr.com/photos/paullew/9163364497

The Law, the Law, and the Spirit, Romans 7.21-8.6

What happens when the new man and the old man come into conflict? It becomes a wrestling match between the Law of Sin and the Law of God. And only through the Spirit of God can we find victory in this fight and put to death the Law of Sin in us. Listen now to find out more about this match within.

Image: John Barrymore as Dr. Jeckyll and Mr. Hyde. Dr. Jeckyll image from Motion Picture News pg 2 (Mar-Jun 1920); Mr. Hyde image from Shadowland, pg 33 (Sept 1919-Feb 1920). Both images public domain.