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The Pastoral Epistles of Saint Paul
Talk by Metropolitan Jonah (Paffhausen), part 11, Romans chapter 11:13 - 14:23
December 21, 2021
 
Topics include: 
(a) Rom 11:13-36: The whole point of the atonement is the reconciliation of the cosmos. The Jews were effectively hoarding God and his revelation ... their rejection of the Gospel brought the message out to the Gentiles. Our faith stands on the Patriarchs and the Prophets;
(b) Rom 12: Give an integrated gift of love and holiness from your heart without hypocrisy; be transformed by the renewing of your nous (spiritual awareness/consciousness). This is exactly what we mean by repentance. You will know in your spiritual center what is good and acceptable and perfect ... you will intuit it ... if you are so renewed by this transformation; We receive grace for charity or for hospitality, etc. Each person receives different gifts for the building up of the Body of Christ; Don't try to know more than one ought to know ... be humble; A discussion of Origen ... his history, influence on the Cappadocian Fathers, and the modern resurgence in interest in his writings; Don't seek revenge or retribution but pray for your enemies ... do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good ... be dispassionate ... enemies can often alienate you from the world and drive you to Christ;
(c) Rom 13: Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires; 
(d) Rom 14: On judging others ... Our judgments are corrupted by our passions ... "Who are you to pass judgment on the servant of another?" ... only be fully convinced in your own mind of your own actions; nothing is unclean in itself, but is unclean for one who thinks it is unclean; keep your faith regarding debatable matters between you and God and live by faith, not doubting; Eat what is set before you, just don't become obsessed with this food or the other; Fasts are not about "clean" or "unclean" but a discipline of abstention from certain foods or any food ... so don't judge another's fast!; Don't become distracted by pious rules ... these are not the criterion of our faith. Rules are there as help but are not laws, so don't drive yourself to anxiety. E.g., Chastity is a law, abstaining from meat is a rule; A true Lent ... righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, cf. a Lent that produces judgment and rancor, and is to our damnation; Don't tempt your brother who has certain different beliefs ... love your brother and don't make him stumble.