The Horns of a Dilemma and a Divine Mystery
Preparing for the Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Two Days before Sunday (Year B)
Scripture
Semi-continuous: Psalm 1; Proverbs 30:18-33; Romans 11:25-32
Complementary: Psalm 54; 1 Kings 22:24-40; Romans 11:25-32
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Prayer
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer)
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Reflection
I want you to understand this mystery, brothers and sisters, so that you may not claim to be wiser than you are: a hardening has come upon part of Israel until the full number of the gentiles has come in. And in this way all Israel will be saved, as it is written,
“Out of Zion will come the Deliverer;
he will banish ungodliness from Jacob.”
“And this is my covenant with them,
when I take away their sins.”
As regards the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but as regards election they are beloved for the sake of their ancestors, for the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Just as you were once disobedient to God but have now received mercy because of their disobedience, so also they have now been disobedient in order that, by the mercy shown to you, they also may now[a] receive mercy. For God has imprisoned all in disobedience so that he may be merciful to all (Romans 11:25-32).
In Romans chapter 9 through 11, Paul deals with the question of why Israel by and large has not believed in Jesus as the Messiah. In his bones, Paul knows that Jesus is the one whom God has long promised to the people of Israel, and yet Israel did not recognize the Messiah when he came.
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