Where is God? Some people think that God the Creator departed after setting up this part of the universe we call the Milky Way. These people think God either vanished for good or is busy in another part of the universe creating something new. For these people, life on planet earth has been pretty much left to its own devices. For them, this notion explains why there is so much hunger, strife, violence and natural disasters; God is absent.
Most of the people in Paul’s era believed in gods. Their gods controlled all of the natural elements but had little regard for people. I see Paul taking on both of the issues, the absent & the uncaring gods, in today’s passage.
Paul reveals the interactive prayer ministry of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is comingled within the believer, taking our hurts, concerns, passion for mercy and justice and the hurting people in the world, and presenting them to God the Father. This portion of chapter 8 brings to memory John’s revelation: An angel with a gold incense burner mixed a great amount of incense with the prayers of God’s people as an offering. The smoke of the incense, mixed with the prayers of God’s holy people, ascended up to God. (Revelation 8:3-5)
As I read the magnificent prose of Paul as he answers his own rhetorical question, “Can anything separate us from God?” I am reminded that we are invited to know God as Emmanuel, God with us. I love the Statement of Faith of The United Church of Canada because for me it matches Paul’s beautiful prose:
We are not alone,
we live in God’s world.
we live in God’s world.
We believe in God:
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
who has created and is creating,
who has come in Jesus,
the Word made flesh,
to reconcile and make new,
who works in us and others
by the Spirit.
We trust in God.
We are called to be the church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
We are called to be the church:
to celebrate God’s presence,
to love and serve others,
to seek justice and resist evil,
to proclaim Jesus,
crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
crucified and risen,
our judge and our hope.
In life, in death,
in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
in life beyond death,
God is with us.
We are not alone.
Thanks be to God.
Amen.
What word or phrase in these verses
attracts your attention?
Reflect on that word or phrase.
What insights come to you?
How does this passage touch your life today?
11-Dec-11 Rom. 9:6-29
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