16th Sunday after Pentecost (year A) Proper 18

In today’s Epistle, Romans 13:8-14, Paul asserts the 'Day of the Lord', the reign of Christ, God's image and likeness, through the spiritual core in all humankind is here and now [Romans 8:13]. In fully putting on Christ, Paul admonishes believers to make no provisions for the mind of the flesh [Romans 13:14]. Through the baptism of repentance, steadfast faith in the incarnate Christ and walking in Jesus' footsteps, all human beings can now experience the fulfillment of God's will and purpose in their hearts, souls, minds and lives.

Today's scripture readings encourage people of all religions to more fully clothe themselves in the hidden mystery of Christ's presence through faith, hope, charity, love, fidelity and uprightness [Romans 8:12]. Paul encourages spiritual grow and maturity in the realization of the new life in Christ, where God alone is exalted throughout our planet.

Putting on Christ involves putting off the old sinful nature and putting on the new life in Christ. Paul asserts that Christ-centered love fulfills the law of God [john 13;34, Romans 13:8]. In the Day of the Lord, believers will lay aside the mind and works of darkness and put on the mind and works of light [John 1:9, Galatians 5:16-26]. Humans will live honorably, not in reveling and drunkenness, not in debauchery and licentiousness, not in quarrelling and jealousy [Romans 13:12-13].

Paul believed that the dawn of this new day could be realized in his lifetime. He believed that humans are now awaking out of spiritual deafness, spiritual blindness and spiritual sleep. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, they are again becoming conscious of Christ's indwelling presence. They are now realizing Christ's reign through their spiritual cores [Colossians 1:26-27]. With this spiritual understanding, clarity and realization, the presence and mind of Christ is their amour. With God's help they overcome the temptations and deception of the mind of the flesh [Romans 13:14].

The Bible states that in the Garden of Eden, humankind initially chose disobedience, unbelief and rejection of God's original will and plan for humankind [Genesis 1:28-31]. Many today continue to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil instead of the knowledge of the tree of life through the incarnate Christ, [Genesis 2:15-17]. Many continue to reject God's Christ-centered, Spirit-based wisdom, sound judgment and abundant life which Jesus revealed [John 10:7-10]. Many choose to live as victims of the temptations, deception and destruction of the mind of the flesh [Romans 8:1-11].

In today’s narrative, Paul names several works of darkness, which he believers should put of cast off, in the Day of the Lord. They include revelry, drunkenness, immorality, shamelessness, contention and envy. He declares that to the degree believers casts-off these destructive mind sets, intentions and practices, believers will put on the Light, Life and Love of Christ.

Have you decided to put on Christ and make no provision for the mind of the flesh? Are you a Christ-centered light among the people of the world? Are you experiencing the Day of the Lord, as God's plan of mankind's purity, peacefulness and gentleness in Christ? Are you choosing Christ’s mercy and unconditional love, grace and truth. Are you living without partiality and without hypocrisy?

Virtue of the Week: Love

Prayer of the week: Getting free of bad influences