Lent - Day 20 ( from June 2014 )

               Wow. In today's passage my head was spinning a bit trying to follow the logic, well, follow what Paul is saying about circumcision, non-circumcision, uncircumcised, physically uncircumcised, etc. Who could follow that? Sounds reminiscent of some of the circular logic the Roman Catholic church uses to justify some of their existing positions from birth control to celibacy to marriage equality. Come to think of it,  the common thread might be the preoccupation with genitalia and how to respect and deal with a God given gift. There are a great number of uptight people who really have trouble with their genitalia. Consequently if they have problems they make problems for the rest of us. In addition, the gay community as a general rule celebrates their bodies and that is very threatening to the up-tights as well.

             What truly is great though, snuck in there, is the  real story, it  is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. For all those literalists out there, a great lesson, it is all about the spiritual. It's what's in your heart. As Bishop Gene Robinson once said so wisely, 'it's about hearts, not parts'. Amen.

Of course, enjoy the 'parts' but the spiritual is the most important.

            This whole issue is not unlike fulfillment of the law. Jesus did not do away with the law but in the same way he made a point of stating what the two great commandments are. And the basis of all the laws, even those two great commandments is love. 

         So, circumcision, non-circumcision, uncircumcised, physically uncircumcised, whatever, it's what is in your heart. Similarly obeying the laws and rules will not make you holy. It's how you live and love.

           It is how you live

                  and love.

 Romans 2:25-3:8                      

Circumcision indeed is of value if you obey the law; but if you break the law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. So, if those who are uncircumcised keep the requirements of the law, will not their uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? Then those who are physically uncircumcised but keep the law will condemn you that have the written code and circumcision but break the law. For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is true circumcision something external and physical. Rather, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly, and real circumcision is a matter of the heart—it is spiritual and not literal. Such a person receives praise not from others but from God.

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written,
‘So that you may be justified in your words,
   and prevail in your judging.’
But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), ‘Let us do evil so that good may come’? Their condemnation is deserved!