| |
Columba Comments...
Short reflections written by members of our
congregation
15 March 2009
Back to
index
Scripture: Romans 8:22-27
Exploration
The The theme for
our reading today is “Listening to the groans”.
In this passage Paul firmly links two ideas that we do not normally
connect – suffering and hope.
The groans of creation are mirrored by the groans of believers as
they wait for redemption, and of the Spirit itself as it conveys the
anguish of believers in prayers that they cannot express for
themselves. God is aware even of those things we are unable to pray
(vv. 26 27).The language and response recall the groans of Joseph’s
descendents in Egypt, which prompted God to rescue the Hebrews from
slavery (Exodus 2:24, 6:5).
The suffering of creation is not, however, utter despair. Paul uses
the startling image of creation groaning in labour pains. This
evokes the curse of the earth and specifically of Eve (Genesis
3:17-19), but also suggests that creation’s suffering is not a
foretaste of death, but a necessary prelude to new life.
The groaning that links creation, the community of believers and the
Spirit is mingled with anticipation of something better to come,
combined with assurance that present suffering is not the final
word. Hence this passage’s second major theme is hope, a word used
five times in just six verses.
Here, we are caught in the “already/not yet” tension of Paul’s
eschatology (the study of last things - death, judgment etc). He
writes of salvation for believers in the past tense – it has already
happened (v. 24). But the fullness of redemption still lies in the
future (vv. 18, 23). We live in the time-between-times, already
enjoying the fruits of the Spirit (v. 23), but awaiting
glorification (v.17). We hope because we look forward to that which
we do not yet have (vv. 24-25).
Christians, then, are neither exempt from the suffering of the
world, nor anaesthetised against its effects. We suffer, along with
creation and indeed Jesus himself (8:17). But we do so in the
expectant hope that God’s purposes will ultimately prevail. Chapter
8 concludes with Paul’s wonderful statement of Christian hope:
“For I am convinced
that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things
present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor
anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the
love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Questions for Reflection
-
Verse 26 says
that the Spirit intercedes for us when we do not know how to pray.
Has the Spirit helped you to pray in times of distress or
confusion? If so, how did it feel?
-
Some people read
verses 23 (and 21) as saying that the whole of creation will
ultimately be saved, not just the “elect”, or even the whole of
humanity. What would that imply for Christians’ attitudes to
nature and the environment? What about our current concern with
church attendance?
-
Two key words
recur in these few verses - “hope” and “groans”. What do you think
about the way Paul connects them? Can you think of ways in which
hope and groans intertwine in your own life, or in our shared life
at St Columba’s?
-
What prevents us
from facing up to our own pain and the pain of others? What
resources can we draw on to acknowledge and act on the groans in
our own hearts and the hearts of those around us?
Back to
index
|
