The word of the day is “ashamed.”  In this time of cynicism, we are tempted to stifle our witness to our faith because we fear it would not be understood or even ridiculed.  If we face such a temptation, we should pay attention to St. Paul’s words in our reading of Romans 1:1-7; 13-17.  Paul begins his epistle with the bold statement, “For I am not ashamed of the Gospel” (OSB vs. 16).  Today, as we start reading Romans, we find that if the Gospel is proclaimed with boldness, it has power.  But if it is preached with conformity to the world, it is weak. Glorying in the Gospel St. Paul’s letter to the Romans is the nearest thing in…