The Third Sunday after Epiphany (NT)

Romans 12:9-21

⁹ Let love be genuine. Abhor what is evil; hold fast to what is good. ¹⁰ Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor. ¹¹ Do not be slothful in zeal, be fervent in spirit, serve the Lord. ¹² Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. ¹³ Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

¹⁴ Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. ¹⁵ Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. ¹⁶ Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly. Never be wise in your own sight. ¹⁷ Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. ¹⁸ If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. ¹⁹ Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” ²⁰ To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

How can North Carolina fan root for Duke?  How can a Michigan fan root for Ohio State?  How can a Notre Dame fan root for USC?  Is this what St Paul means?  Maybe there is something more.  Do not think you are better than anyone else.

There still are many class wars going on in the United States and around the world.  I look at the clothing people wear.  The movies or books people watch define their group or association.  The world is a very diverse place, but it is not a melting pot.  The world may even be more diverse today than previously in History, because society is making more distinctions.

But God does not make distinctions.  God does not put people into demographics, or fan classes, or social classes.  God puts us all in the same class.  SINNERS.  You are a sinner, if for no other reason than the way you treat your neighbor.  We are all members of this class.

God has given us Good News.  He has said, you won’t always be a sinner.  God sent his Son to die for the forgiveness of sins, so that you may one day be classified as a Saint (or are a Saint/Sinner now).  In Jesus Christ we are still all the same (Sinner/Saints).