In the letter to the Romans,
Chapter Eleven, Paul speaks about the rejection by Israel to Jesus Christ as
the Messiah, the one sent by God to liberate them. They transgress against the
will of the Father by not listening and believing to the Son and his message of
salvation. They commit a grievous sin of disobedience against Him. But despite
their disobedience and unbelief, God remains faithful to His promise of
salvation. Israel remains to be a chosen nation for God. In this, Paul remains
to be hopeful that Israel, in due time, would realize their transgression
against God and believe in the salvific message of Jesus Christ, the Messiah. The
hardening of the heart of Israel towards Jesus Christ is just but a temporary
state, neither total nor permanent.[1]
It is their partial insensitivity.[2]
It plays a role in the entire schema of salvation. In time this hardening will
be taken away and the Jews will be reconciled with God once again, in this way
all Israel will be saved.[3]
For Paul, God’s gift and his call are
irrevocable (Rom 11:29). Paul finds a way to turn this tragic event of
unbelief of Israel as a gracious means of God to share the message of salvation
brought by Christ, to the Gentiles. It is the full complement of the Gentiles.[4]
Through Israel’s fall, the Gentiles attain their salvation (Roman 11: 30-32). But
no heartbreaking event, in this case Israel’s rejection of Jesus Christ, can
impede God in realizing his plan of salvation for all, for as Paul has said, God’s gift and his call are irrevocable (Rom
11:29).
Through this Chapter, there seem
to be an emphasis on the continuation of the plan of salvation of God to
Israel. Paul would insist or rather would remain hopeful on the fulfillment of
the promise of God to Israel; making twist and turn looking for the right
interpretation of the events surrounding the Jews and Gentiles’ reception of
Jesus Christ. The Greek word for irrevocable is ametameletos. It means ‘not to be regretted, without regret, hence
irrevocable, of something one does not take away. It can mean that God never
changes his mind, even cannot change His mind.[5]
Ametameletos gives the impression of
God’s firmness in his decision; decisiveness, persistence despite of
discouraging events.
No amount of human acts, such as
sin, disbelief, unfaithfulness, can alter the plan of God to us. God plans to
save us all.[6]
Some may cooperate, while others may remain to be indifferent to the salvific
act of God in our history. But this will not change the plan of God for us, for
He knows us through and through. Even before He created us He knows our
weaknesses, our fragility. But God does not condemn us because of our weakness.
He seizes it as an opportunity for Him to be closer to us, and for us to seek
Him who would realize our deepest longing in life; to be with Him our Creator.
We may be guilty of terrible
sins, offense against God. Sometimes we may feel unworthy to receive Him, worse
is, to be hopeless for our salvation. But Paul teaches us to remain hopeful and
discerning for the hands of God working in our lives. God’s plan of salvation
for us would be realized despite of our unworthiness. Paul encourages us to
keep the faith in God and to His promise of salvation for God’s gift and his call are irrevocable (Rom 11:29).
[1] William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible Series, The Letter to the Romans, revised ed.
(Edinburgh: Saint Andrew Press, 1975) 152.
[2] Joseph A. Fitzmyer, SJ, “The Letter to the
Romans” in The New Jerome Biblical
Commentary, ed. Raymond E. Brown SS, et al (New Jersey: Prentice Hall,
Inc., 1990) 861.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.
[5] Richard C. Blight, Exetical helps on the Epistle to the Romans, ed. John Beekman (
Mexico: Casa de Publicaciones en Cien Lenguas Maestro Moises Saenz, 1979) 281.
[6] Cf. In the Fourth Eucharistic Prayer (Canon IV) the Church
addresses God in the following words: "Father, we proclaim your greatness:
all your actions show your wisdom and love. You formed man in your own likeness
and set him over the whole world to serve you, his creator, and to rule over
all creatures. Even when in disobedience he rejected your friendship you did
not abandon him to the power of death...." See: Gen 3:15, Rom 6:17, 1 Tim 2:4.
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