Ninth Sunday after Creation Sunday (NTA)

Romans 2:1-11

Therefore you have no excuse, O man, every one of you who judges. For in passing judgment on another you condemn yourself, because you, the judge, practice the very same things. ² We know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. ³ Do you suppose, O man—you who judge those who practice such things and yet do them yourself—that you will escape the judgment of God? ⁴ Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? ⁵ But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. 

⁶ He will render to each one according to his works: ⁷ to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; ⁸ but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury. ⁹ There will be tribulation and distress for every human being who does evil, the Jew first and also the Greek, ¹⁰ but glory and honor and peace for everyone who does good, the Jew first and also the Greek. ¹¹ For God shows no partiality. 

It is often easier to see the sin in others lives while ignoring it within our own life. We look at others only to see ourselves in a better light. St Paul is illustrating this type of Judgment. It is not right for us to classify people, or show partiality between different groups of people. God is the just and right judge. He is the one who will truly judge people based on all they have thought, said, and done.

God is the one who renders unto each of us according to our works. God knows all your works. Yet, God desires to give you eternal life. He desires to have mercy upon you. But how often do we fall into unrighteousness. It is so easy for us to make poor choices. We who have been corrupted by sin are bent toward committing sin.

St Paul warns us that each of us will face great tribulation. Each of us has fallen from doing what is good. St Paul urges us to lead better lives. It is through our good works we can truly show glory and honor to our Lord.

Through this we do not bring about our own salvation. Our salvation comes from God's work in each of us. God has sacrificed his Son for you. He has claimed you to be his treasure. God is the one who shows no partiality desiring for all men to be saved. He desires for you to come to knowledge of Jesus Christ. Therefore, he offers you various gifts to remind you and impress upon you the forgiveness of sins.