A note for this morning’s sermon – you are invited to listen. The text is not a sermon, where you are being asked to follow a line of thought, or engage your mind in answering pointed questions to apply the Gospel to your everyday life. Rather today’s listening is simply that, listen to God’s Word from Romans 12. Here it is presented as an interweaving of three Bible translations: the New Revised Standard Version, God’s Word Translation, and the Amplified Bible. This form of reading and listening is an adaptation of the ancient Christian prayer practice of Lectio Divina. This is a practice where the listener opens their heart to listen for God’s voice and the Spirit’s whispers without expectation or preconceived ideas. One is not to start with wanting to get-something, rather, it is listening with the joy of listening. The scripture is approached with an acceptance that Christ is central - the purpose and meaning comes through Christ.
To prepare ourselves -our ears and our hearts- I invite you to breathe. Settle yourself. Purposefully place your hands- palms up or down or folded. Soften your gaze or close your eyes. Turn up the corner of your lips in a small smile.
Listen.
NRSV God’s Word Trans. Amplified Bible (Classic Ed)
Let love be genuine; Love sincerely. Let your] love be sincere (a real thing);
Hate what is evil; Hate evil hate what is evil [loathe all ungodliness, turn in
horror from wickedness],
Hold fast to what is good; Hold on to what is good, but hold fast to that which is
good.
Love one another with mutual affection. Be devoted to each other like a
loving family.
Love one another with brotherly
affection [as members of one family].
Outdo one another in showing honor. Excel in showing respect for each other, giving precedence and showing
honor to one another.
Do not lag in zeal. Don’t be lazy in showing your devotion. Never lag in zeal and in
earnest endeavor;
be ardent in spirit. Use your energy to serve the
Lord.
Serve the Lord. Be aglow and burning with the
Spirit, serving the Lord.
Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; persevere in prayer.
Be happy in your confidence, be patient in trouble, and pray
continually.
Rejoice and exult in hope; be steadfast and
patient in suffering and tribulation; be constant in prayer.
Contribute to the needs of the saints. Share what you have with God’s
people who are in need.
Contribute to the needs of God’s people [sharing in the
necessities of the saints].
Pursue hospitality to strangers. Be hospitable. Pursue the practice of hospitality.
Bless those who persecute you; bless Bless those who persecute you. Bless them, Bless those who persecute you [who are cruel in their
attitude toward you]; Bless and do not curse them. and don’t curse them and do not curse them.
Rejoice with those who rejoice. Be happy with those who are
happy. Rejoice with those who rejoice
[sharing others’ joy].
Weep with those who weep. Be sad with those who are sad. and weep with those who weep
[sharing others’ grief].
Live Live
Live --- in harmony with one another, in harmony with each other, in harmony with one another;
Do not be arrogant, but associate with the lowly.
Don’t be arrogant, but be friendly to humble people.
Do not be haughty (snobbish, high-minded, exclusive),
but readily adjust yourself to [people, things] and give
yourselves to humble tasks.
Do not claim to be wiser than you are.
Don’t think that you are smarter than you really are.
Never overestimate yourself or be
wise in your own conceits.
Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought
for what is noble in the sight of all.
Don’t pay people back with evil for the evil they do
to you. Focus your thoughts on those things that are considered noble. Repay no one evil for evil, but
take thought for what is honest and proper and noble
[aiming to be above reproach] in the sight of everyone.
If it is possible, as much as it is possible, If possible, --- as far as it depends on you so far as it depends on you -live
peaceably with all. Live IN peace with everyone. Live AT peace with everyone.
Beloved, never avenge yourselves. Don’t take revenge, dear
friends. Beloved,
never avenge yourselves, but leave the way open for [God’s] wrath, but leave room for the wrath of
God. Instead,
let God’s anger take care of it, for it is written, after all, Scripture says “Vengeance is mine; I will
repay, says the Lord.”, “I alone have the right to take revenge. I will pay back, says
the Lord.” for
it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay (requite),”says the Lord.
BUT,
INSTEAD “if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are
thirsty, give them something to drink,
“If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If
he is thirsty, give him a drink.
BUT IF your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is
thirsty, give him drink;
for by so doing you will heap burning coals upon his
head.
for by doing this you will heap burning coals on
their heads.
If you do this, you will make him feel guilty and ashamed.”
Do not. Do not. DON’T
be overcome by evil, let yourself be overcome by evil, let evil conquer you,
but … overcome evil with good.
but …. overcome (master) evil with good.
But … conquer evil with good.
The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
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