Romans 5.1-8
‘5 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3 And not only that, but we also boast in our afflictions, knowing that affliction produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us. 6 For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 Indeed, rarely will anyone die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person someone might actually dare to die. 8 But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.’
Reflection
St Paul speaks here of God establishing a new relationship with us through his Son, Jesus Christ, who died and rose again for us. The human race was not at one with God. We had sinned (i.e., chosen egocentricity and selfishness). Yet despite that – despite our unloveliness – God sent his Son into the world to set us free. This free grace of God, God’s love poured into us through the Holy Spirit, transforms our lives if we give way to it. The radiant love of God inspires and enables us to become people of love, in whom the sin of egocentricity is transformed into the generous gift of self.
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