The word of the day is “proclamation.” Those who have spent their lives in the church have heard so many sermons, both inspired and uninspired, that they no longer expect to be stirred by any preacher. Yet in our reading of Romans 10:11-11:2, we find a provocative statement: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the universe” (Romans 10:18). This declaration of the power of preaching applies to the witness of the apostles (OSB footnote on Psalm 19:4). And so, in the Orthodox Church we hear this hymn on Pentecost, on the Feast of SS Peter and Paul, and on the “Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles.” Today we ask whether…
The word for today is “faith.” Those who believe the Gospel would think that all who hear it would respond in faith to it. They would ask why many do not? In today’s reading of Romans 10:11-11:2, Paul continues to wrestle with that question. He writes, “But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’” (OSB Romans 10:16). Today our study will not arrive at an explanation for the negative response to the offer of salvation. But our commentary will propose a fresh perspective to the question of why most Jews rejected the message of Christ. A Change of Focus Suppose we turn our focus from those who reject the Gospel to…
The word of the day is “proclamation.” Those who have spent their lives in the church have heard so many sermons, both inspired and uninspired, that they not longer expect to be stirred by any preacher. Yet in our reading of Romans 10:11-11:2, we find a provocative statement: “Their sound has gone out to all the earth, and their words to the end of the universe” (Romans 10:18). This declaration of the power of preaching applies to the preaching of the apostles (OSB footnote on Psalm 19:4). And so, in the Orthodox Church we hear this hymn on Pentecost, the Feast of SS Peter and Paul, as well as today on the “Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles.” Today we…
The word for today is “faith.” Those who believe the Gospel would think that all who hear it would respond in faith to it. They would ask why many do not? In today’s reading of Romans 10:11-11:2, Paul continues to wrestle with that question. He writes, “But they have not all obeyed the Gospel. For Isaiah says, “’Lord, who has believed our report?’” (OSB Romans 10:16). Today our study will not arrive at an explanation for the negative response to the offer of salvation. But our commentary will propose a fresh perspective to the question of why most Jews rejected the message of Christ. A Change of Focus Suppose we turn our focus from those who reject the Gospel to…