Romans 1:1-7 (NRSV)
Read Romans 1:1-7 on biblegateway.com
Chapter 1Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, Verse 2which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, Verse 3the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh Verse 4and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, Verse 5through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, Verse 6including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, Verse 7To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Devotion
For the Advent season we are looking back and reflecting on the previous week's readings.
We are called to belong to Jesus. In baptism God has claimed us as God’s own. What does this mean? It means that our life is now clothed in Jesus. For centuries, clothing was an identity. We still see some vestiges of that today, including among some clergy who wear collars. Our identity, inner and outer, is Jesus Christ. Jesus is now the one who defines the shape of our life. During the Advent season, we highlight one aspect of this formation in faith: through hope. Our hope in Jesus, our hope is in God's mercy; this hope shapes the way we live in the world. It shapes us much differently than the hope for material possessions or personal advancement. Though we wait for Jesus, though we eagerly anticipate Christmas Eve, God is already with us as deep hope for a world restored, a humanity reconciled, for peace, for the dawning morning star.
Prayer
O morning star, splendor of light eternal and sun of righteousness: disperse the gloomy clouds of night and death’s dark shadow put to flight. Amen.