We hear today, that famous passage from St. Paul, his indictment of the Gentiles and their idolatrous way of life.  And, we all know that the next few lines, omitted by the Church from this selection in the lectionary, is the famous condemnation of homosexuality.

Can we talk?

Of course, many who quote this section from scripture fail to consider the context of the whole argument.   The Gentiles (that would be 'us') have been delivered up to the lusts of their hearts:  The envious, gossips, and scandalmongers are lumped together with the haughty and boastful.

They are filled with every form of wickedness, evil, greed, and malice; full of envy, murder, rivalry, treachery, and spite.  They are gossips and scandalmongers and they hate God. They are insolent, haughty, boastful, ingenious in their wickedness, and rebellious.

Can we talk?

St. Paul goes on, at the beginning of chapter two, saying

You, O man, are without excuse, every one of you who passes judgment.  For by the standard by which you judge another you condemn yourself, since you, the judge, do the very same things.

Can we talk about 'cleansing the outside of the cup and dish and not the inside?'

St. Paul will eventually proclaim that faith in Christ is the way and the way out of the bind of both unchecked malice as well as unchecked judgment.  My prayer is that Christ will show me the way and the truth and the life (that would be himself) and lead me to a deeper knowledge of him.

What is your prayer today?