The Monday after Populus Sion Sunday, the Second Sunday in Advent
Posted on December 8, 2025 by under
Scripture: Romans 2:1-16 (NKJV)
2:1 Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself; for you who judge practice the same things. 2 But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. 3 And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? 4 Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? 5 But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, 6 who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: 7 eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; 8 but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, 9 tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; 10 but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 11 For there is no partiality with God.
12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
Devotion
In the Gospel text for this past Sunday our Lord said: “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.” If we wish to escape the coming judgment of God, we must be counted worthy to escape it. We must be reckoned as righteous, since the Son of Man is a righteous Judge.
However, lest we think that we can be counted worthy by doing works of the Law, St. Paul writes in today’s text: “Therefore you are inexcusable, O man, whoever you are who judge, for in whatever you judge another you condemn yourself … do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?” We cannot escape the judgment of God by our works. Our works are sinful. They are self-seeking and disobedient. If we insist upon being judged by our works, we shall only treasure up for ourselves wrath in the day of the righteous judgment of God.
We Christians do not look to God as merely our Judge, but as our Redeemer. Instead of hardening our hearts and clinging to our works, we confess our sins and trust that we are counted worthy through faith in Jesus’ redemption. On the Last Day we will “look up and lift up our heads,” not because our works are worthy, but because our Redeemer draws near (Luke 21:28, Gospel for Populus Sion).
Collect: Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine Only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through the same Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, ever One God, world without end. Amen.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
