Epistle: Romans 15:17-29
Gospel: St. Matthew 12:46-13:3
Christ Jesus: Romans 15:17-29, especially vs. 17:
"I can therefore glory in Christ Jesus concerning the work for God in which I am engaged" (WNT). God accomplishes amazing things through His People. When we personally experience Him at work in the midst of a project or effort we are carrying out in His Name, His presence and activity are at once humbling, thrilling, and exhilarating. Such a personal experience dominates the present passage from St. Paul's Epistle to the Romans. In these few lines, the Apostle refers over and over to the presence and activity of Christ Jesus in and through the very "work for God in which [he was] engaged" (vs. 17). By sharing his own experience, he provides us with insights and words for describing our own experience of Christ Jesus at work in our lives.
"Glory" is not a word we commonly use in speaking of the work for God in which we may be engaged. St. Paul uses "kauchesin" in this sentence (vs. 17), which had a dual meaning, one positive and the other negative. Positively, kauchesin referred to legitimate pride in accomplishments. Negatively, it referred to boasting about achievements. What is the Apostle's point?
Throughout the passage the Apostle is referring to his ministry and its accomplishments. The aim of the work was "to make the Gentiles obedient" to the Gospel of Christ (vs. 18). He describes what he did in carrying out the work - "mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God" (vs. 19). Also, he mentions what was accomplished - the foundation of the Church throughout the Anatolian peninsula, present day Turkey, and the southern Balkans, which was Illyricum in Roman times (vs. 19). As the Apostle indicates, when he worked there, the Name of Christ Jesus had never even been spoken (vs. 20) to any of the peoples in those regions. The point, which the Apostle emphasizes in all this, is that the accomplishments were all of God's doing, so that any pride of achievement unstintingly belonged wholly to God (vss. 17-19).
In the Apostle's experience, Christ Jesus infused his words and deeds, "to make the Gentiles obedient" (vs. 18). St. Paul was in such awe of what Christ God had achieved that he would "not dare to speak" of any of the outcomes as his attainments. He would only say, that they were what the Lord Jesus "accomplished through me" (vs. 18). Christ Jesus is seen as the sole source of what was achieved. Yes, the Apostle was the announcer who spoke the Name that had never been heard, but it was Christ Jesus Who opened their eyes and enabled them to understand (vs. 21). Thus, by Christ's work, the peoples whom the Saint met became obedient to the Gospel.
As the passage progresses, St. Paul directs attention to his plan to visit the new Christians in Rome, something he had long desired to do (vs. 23). However, his work for Christ Jesus had kept him from this desire (vs. 22); but now he could see that he probably would be able to make the journey after delivering an offering "for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem"(vs.26). Here he makes a beautiful comment aside about the exchange of spiritual benefits for material goods. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which began in Jerusalem at Pentecost, allowed the Gentiles, the pagan peoples among whom he had labored, to become "partakers of [the] spiritual things" of the Saints in Jerusalem (vss. 26-27). Now, in a turn-about, they were sending material relief for their necessities.
Returning to his earlier point about God providing all blessings, the Apostle assures the Roman Christians that Christ Jesus will likewise shower them with "the fullness of the blessing of [His] gospel" (vs. 29) when St. Paul comes. Again, Christ Jesus will be the One giving the blessing.
Let everything that hath breath, praise the Lord. Praise ye the Lord from the heavens: praise Him in the heights. To Thee, O God is due our song. (Drawn from Psalm 150).