Mystical Word: 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Readings for the 19th Sunday in Ordinary Time:
1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a | Romans 9:1-5 | Matthew 14:22-33
On Romans 9:1-5
In the letter to the Romans, which we have been reflecting on since June 2026, St. Paul proclaims God’s universal love in the death and resurrection of Jesus, the love that is never separate from anyone, ever. He proclaims his doctrine of justification by faith: all of humanity was held in bondage to sin, but God universally acquits everyone through Jesus Christ. All we have to do is turn to God in faith. Well, what about those who do not have faith? What about our family and friends who do not believe? And, for Paul, what about his fellow Jews?
In the second reading for this Sunday, St. Paul raises the issue of those who do not believe. The question about Israel, those chosen by God but who reject Christ, raises a wider issue: what about all who reject the Gospel? Robert Karris reflects, “In 9:1-5 Paul engages in deep and sincere pathos (‘great sorrow and constant anguish’) over his fellow Jews, the majority of whom have not believed in the gospel of Jesus as Messiah and Lord. God has gifted them so generously. While nothing can separate believers from the love of Christ (8:35), Paul, similar to Moses in Exodus 32:32, is willing to be ‘separated from Christ for the sake of’ his brothers and sisters, his kin according to the flesh.”
The issue of Israel rejecting Christ is a vital issue for St. Paul. He explores this question throughout chapters 9-11. He wonders whether the Word of God failed (see 9:6), James Aageson notes, “The reliability of God’s word to Israel was at stake; and it was to God’s word, the Scriptures, that Paul turned to argue that it had not failed.” Over chapters 9-11, St. Paul uses scripture to assert the utter reliability of God. If God is not reliable, then why have faith? Why trust that we are justified? It is a crucial issue!
Frank Matera explains, “The response Paul gives to this question can be summarized in this way: It is not God who has been unfaithful but Israel that has failed to accept God’s saving righteousness. God’s ways have not changed, for God has always worked on the basis of election. Nevertheless, Israel’s disobedience has played an important role in God’s economy of salvation inasmuch as the Gentiles have embraced the gospel that Israel has rejected. God, however, has not repudiated Israel, as Paul will affirm in next week’s reading. Therefore, in God’s time, and in God’s way, all Israel will be saved.”
Israel’s failure to embrace Jesus does not mean they are beyond God’s love. It certainly does not mean we Christians can treat them harshly or persecute them. Unfortunately, this has been the way the church treated the Jewish people through the centuries.
Paul is a proud Jew and affirms his love for his people. Thus, although anti-Semites have used Paul to justify their bias and violence against the Jewish people, this section of Romans does not at all condone that evil. Further, Paul’s argument in Romans 9-11 undermines any racism whatsoever since God loves and therefore gives inherent dignity to all people.
One of the greatest evil ironies in history is that white supremacists have used Christianity – with highly selected, overemphasized passages filtered through their own racism – to justify slavery and hierarchy with white people – white men – at the top. Being white, Jewish, or Christian does not mean an exclusive claim to God’s love. It is insane that we still have to affirm this today.
Nevertheless, God does not abandon Israel even though many do not believe in Jesus. But what is faith? Of course, many of us Christians think wrongly about faith. It is not a simplistic matter of accepting doctrines; faith requires a constant surrender to God, to stay in the realm of grace, so perpetual prayer. Faith opens us to mystery.
In chapter 4, St. Paul highlights the faith of Abraham: “He believed, hoping against hope” (4:18). Faith means trusting God in the face of what seems like an impossible situation. Faith means unknowing, for then faith is accepting the God-ness or Absolute Mystery of God and so gives glory to God. St. Paul affirms that God does not abandon those who do not believe; they will not be excluded from God’s justification nor from God’s eternal embrace.