The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him.
On a recent Sunday we heard a fellow asking the Lord how he might "inherit" eternal life. When the Lord explained the sacrifice it entailed -- a sacrifice which is not terribly heavy to the vast majority of humankind -- the man "went away sad for he had many possessions."
The words heir and heirs appear eleven times in the New Testament; and inheritance, seventeen times. From its frequent appearance in our sacred texts, it's obvious that the legal principle was extremely important in the Roman empire. Short of crime and conquest, there was no other way to become wealthy. The rare entrepreneur, (if we can assume this from the parable of the talents,) was also a slave and his earnings belonged to his owner.
In today's text from Romans 8, we learn that "heirs of Christ" should expect suffering and a glorious reward. As the holy sage Job said, "We accept good things from the Lord. Should we not accept bad things as well?"
Neither human life nor Christian discipleship is easy; nor should they be. In the symbolic death of baptism we learn to expect disappointment, disillusionment, frustration, and suffering. If we couldn't imagine those things happening when we accepted the faith, married, or were ordained, we should have nonetheless expected the unimaginable. I hope the ministers who conduct these services routinely mention this dimension of the Lord's inheritance. If they promise only sweetness and light, they lie.
The first centuries of the Church saw a severe reaction of persecution against the alien principles of Christian worship, doctrine, and life style. Saint Paul readily boasted of his sufferings and assured his readers they should expect the same. Only after the Emperor Constantine declared the empire to be a Christian empire did they cease, and then our faith was often co-opted and compromised by halfhearted believers.
As the world again descends into post-Christian, post-scientific, and post-democratic chaos, disciples of Jesus should expect innumerable challenges. The Spirit of God will remain with us to guide those who would be guided. We pray that we and our children might obey that willing, sacrificial, penitential spirit. "...if only we suffer with him so that we may also be glorified with him."
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.