Tuesday after the Sixth Sunday after Trinity Sunday

Scripture: Romans 15:14-33 (NKJV)

15:14 Now I myself am confident concerning you, my brethren, that you also are full of goodness, filled with all knowledge, able also to admonish one another. 15 Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, 16 that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. 17 Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient—19 in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. 20 And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, 21 but as it is written:

“To whom He was not announced, they shall see; And those who have not heard shall understand.”

22 For this reason I also have been much hindered from coming to you. 23 But now no longer having a place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come to you, 24 whenever I journey to Spain, I shall come to you. For I hope to see you on my journey, and to be helped on my way there by you, if first I may enjoy your company for a while. 25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things. 28 Therefore, when I have performed this and have sealed to them this fruit, I shall go by way of you to Spain. 29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.

30 Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me, 31 that I may be delivered from those in Judea who do not believe, and that my service for Jerusalem may be acceptable to the saints, 32 that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you. 33 Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.

Devotion

St. Paul speaks of being “hindered” from coming to Rome, hindered by the need for the Gospel to be preached elsewhere, and for the results of that preaching—an offering for the Christians suffering in Jerusalem—to be delivered. He subjects his will to God’s because he treasures the will of God that turned him from persecuting Christ and His Bride to, instead, gathering those he previously thought uninvited to the eternal wedding feast (vv. 15–16, Acts 9:1–30). Now, he asks the Romans to pray that he would truly continue in doing God’s will, and that they would join him in doing it, by their prayers and offerings, until he would come to them. In this they would be “striving” with him—doing battle like gladiators to bring Christ’s victory to the world.

With this view, Paul both writes them the very pointed things he does in his epistle and looks to enjoy refreshment together with them. It is with this same understanding that the Church continues to “fight the good fight of faith” (1 Tim. 6:11-12) today. Each one of us participates in the battle through fulfilling his own vocations each day, and then we are brought back together for the refreshment of the Gospel and Sacraments. Each day, then, we see if either component is lacking, and even if we, like St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 4:4, see nothing that condemns us, we trust not in the deeds Christ has accomplished in and through us, but return for His grace at every opportunity.

Prayer: Lord, grant us such a thankful desire to strive together in carrying forth Your mission that we always be returned to the means through which You bring us Your grace in Christ. Amen.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.