Second Sunday after Pentecost; The Holy Prophet Elisha (9th c. BC); Our Holy Father Methodius, Patriarch of Constantinople (847)
Romans 2:10-16; Matthew 4:18-23
Apostles’ Fast
Read
Romans 2:10-16
Right and wrong. Who likes to talk about these things nowadays? In our “post-truth” world where we would much sooner talk about “rights,” than “what is right,” St. Paul’s arguments that all will be judged, whether Jew or Greek is often overlooked. With the terrible tragedy of George Floyd’s murder, the word “privilege” has been brought back up again common every-day situations, usually referring to “white privilege.”
In his letter to the Romans, St. Paul discusses another type of privilege in his day, that of the privileged place of the Jewish people in receiving the Revelations of God for the salvation of the world. Abraham received the promise and entered into the covenant. Moses received the Law and the people of Israel enjoyed the privilege of being God’s “firstborn son.” But as St. Paul argues, this does not give the inheritors of the promise licence, but instead greater accountability. They were given the Law and therefore were accountable to the Law. But hold on! Gentile believers weren’t off the hook either. There is a law written in their hearts through their conscience. They know deep down what is right and what is wrong, and they must act accordingly. We Christians, inheritors of the gospel, the fulfilment of the actions of the New Adam and the promises of the New Moses — Jesus Christ— are held to the highest accountability!
We must be continually reminded that “God shows no partiality” (2:10) because we are all too often partial. We like to think that either there is a “right and wrong” that applies to everyone because we like to point the finger at someone else, but conveniently forget (or deny) that it can be pointed right back at us! Or we like to consider the truth as relative, except of course when it comes to someone doing something that we don’t like- it’s objective for them, just not for us!
In our reading today, St. Paul reminds us that this is not the Christian way. Racism and murder are wrong, and it is undeniable that there have been horrible atrocities committed in the past. It is equally undeniable that answering violence with violence through rioting, looting, pillaging and the resulting further deaths of innocent people does not bring justice to George Floyd or end current racism or police brutality, systematic or otherwise.
As we reflect further on our amazing vocation as Christians in this world, we must take seriously the call to respond in truth and love. Perhaps there is some merit to “defunding” police spending as a way of treating symptoms as opposed to providing resources in addressing systematic injustices, I really don’t know. But what I do know is that until we are willing to “defund” our own self-righteous moral relativism, we will not be able to follow the Lord who calls us to admit that the truth applies to us as much as the next person and that the His gospel requires us to show truth and love in our actions.