Vivemus cum Christo | Live with him

But if we died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with him – Romans 6:8

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In the Scriptures, Romans chapter 1 to chapter 5, the apostle Paul teaches us that Jesus Christ died for us, being justified by His blood. Now in Romans chapter 6, the apostle Paul writes that we died with Him. 

In today’s passage, the apostle Paul teaches us so many important concepts and principles:  we died to sin (6:2), were “baptized into his death” (6:3), were “buried with him by baptism into death” (6:4), and were “raised up from the dead” with Him (6:4). Our old self was “crucified with him” (6:6); we died with Christ (6:8); Christ was “raised from the dead” (6:9); and “he died unto sin once” (6:10).

Focusing today on Romans 6:8. Just as Christ died and was raised from the dead, so in His death and resurrection, every believer died to sin and arose to a new self, a new life. Our old self was crucified when Christ was crucified. The cross is the end of all that is old, the ending of sin. It is finished. Our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sin, once and for all. We are not bound by what we were. It was finished by our Lord Jesus on the cross. We are new! The old self died with Jesus Christ on the cross. Paul instructs us to put off the old man as something that is dead and not existing any more (Ephesians 4:22 and Colossians 3:9). The old man that Paul refers to means the old sinful nature, before conversion and accepting Jesus Christ. Anyone living in Christ, is a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17).

We are alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 6:11). Let us live as new people, since our old self is dead. The new man not only has life, he has eternal life!

Reflection on Romans 6: 1 - 11 by Hanne

(Listen to podcast here)

 

 

 

Fides | Faith

Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ - Romans 5:1

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In this passage, it is focused how important is the Faith in our spiritual life. 

Happiness in our hearts is growing more and more due to daily research of love in every single action we usually do. 

It is also important during our walk through life’s path, agreeing to difficulties and issues that happen to us in every field, everyday. Because facing and solving problems and having a challenging attitude helps us to improve our skills and become better human beings. 

Another aspect is to avoid reacting negatively and feeling anger when dealing with things that happen to us. Being calm and trying to do our best to face problems with the same behaviour that Jesus Christ would had. 

Each person has the opportunity to make a difference doing small actions charged by love. When we do that, the Lord is really close to us. We can feel his presence because our heart is full of great feelings like gratitude, happiness, optimism.

Happiness is not to desire what you don’t have, but to desire what we have. The Lord has always been inside us and we only have to understand where is HIM and chasing his sweet light . Amen 

Reflection on Romans 5: 1 - 11 by Ivan

(Listen to podcast here)

Strong in his faith

"No unbelief made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God, fully convinced that God was able to do what he had promised." - Rom 4:20-21

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This passage speaks of Abraham's unwavering faith in God's promises. Despite the seeming impossibility of God's promise—that he would become the father of many nations in his old age—Abraham did not waver in unbelief. Instead, he grew stronger in faith, giving glory to God and fully trusting in God's power to fulfill His word.

Abraham's example challenges us to examine our own faith. Do we trust in God's promises even when circumstances seem hopeless? Faith is not just believing in favourable outcomes but trusting in God Himself—His faithfulness and power.

We often find ourselves struggling with doubt when circumstances do not align with what we hoped for or expected. It is easy to waver when faced with uncertainty, unanswered prayers, or trials that seem impossible to overcome. However, Abraham’s example reminds us that faith is not about having everything figured out—it is about trusting in God even when we do not understand what is going on and why, and when we cannot see the solution.

This passage also encourages us to glorify God, no matter what circumstances we are in. Instead of focusing on his limitations, Abraham magnified God’s ability, and this further strengthened his faith. 

Like Abraham, we should aim to grow stronger in faith by always giving glory to God, even more in difficult moments. Instead of focusing on own fears, doubts or limitations, we can choose to focus on God—His faithfulness, power, and love. He loves us and wants what is best for us. 

We can cultivate such trust through spending more time with God's Word, and through prayer and gratitude. Scripture not only reminds us of God's faithfulness, but helps us to know God personally and strengthen us in trials. In a prayer we can surrender our doubts to God, reflect and thank God for His past faithfulness and trust Him with future.

Ultimately, this passage encourages us to live with a strong faith—focusing not on our own understanding or lack of it, but always believing that God will fulfill His promises in His perfect timing. Like Abraham, we are called to trust, wait, and glorify God even in uncertainty, knowing that He is always faithful.

Reflection on Romans 4:13-25 by Agata

Iustitia | Righteousness | EN | IN

"Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness." – Romans 4:3

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Justified by Faith

 

The Apostle Paul highlights two Biblical figures, Abraham and David, as examples in this passage. Advising others with mere words is easy, but these two figures not only gave advice but also lived by example.

Abraham, as the forefather (Romans 4:1), was highly respected and was justified by his faith and trust in God, not merely by his deeds (Romans 4:3). Similarly, David was justified by God not only because of his actions (Romans 4:6-8).

Our faith and trust in God are essential and are counted as righteousness before Him. Blessed are we who believe in the Lord our God. Let us reflect this faith and trust in our daily actions. Amen.

Reflection from Romans 4:1-12 by Meist

(Listen to podcast here)

Indonesian version: Kebenaran

Lalu percayalah Abraham kepada Allah dan Allah memperhitungkan hal itu kepadanya sebagai kebenaran - Roma 4 : 3

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Dibenarkan melalui Iman

Rasul Paulus mengangkat dua tokoh alkitab yaitu Abraham dan Daud untuk dijadikan teladan dalam perikop ini. Ketika kita menasehati orang lain akan sangat mudah dengan hanya menggunakan kata-kata saja tetapi kedua tokoh ini menasihati dan menjadi pelaku dengan memberikan teladan. 

Teladan yang diberikan oleh Abraham antara lain Abraham ialah bapa leluhur (4:1) yang sangat dihormati, dan dibenarkan karena iman dan kepercayaannya bukan hanya karena perbuatannya (4:3). Demikian halnya dengan Daud, yang dibenarkan Allah bukan hanya karena perbuatan yang dilakukan (4:6-8).

Iman dan kepercayaan kita kepada Tuhan merupakah hal yang penting dan diperhitungkan Tuhan sebagai kebenaran. 

Berbahagialah kita yang percaya kepada Tuhan Allah kita, dan marilah kita merefleksikan iman dan kepercayaan ini dalam perbuatan kita setiap hari. Amin. 

 

Refleksi dari Roma 4: 1-12 oleh Meist

(Dengarkan podcastnya disini)

Non est iustus | No one righteous

"There's no one righteous, not even one." - Romans 3:10

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A lot of people anywhere in the world like to do good things for various reasons. Usually because they are a part of the humanity, they feel better in doing it. The other reason is mostly for a religious purpose. 

Religions often suggest people to do certain good things to impress God and perhaps open the heavenly door. It could be to live in poverty and refuse much pleasure in order to achieve a level of perfection in life, to collect good deeds to be eligible for an eternal life, to live a kind of holy life and do good things to earn a certain predicate, etc. This is on the contrary to Isaiah 64:6 that portraits our righteousness as filthy rags.

As Christians, we preach Jesus Christ and His finished work on the cross for redeeming the mankind from the wrath of God. Isaiah 53: 5-6 says, "But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that made us whole, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all." 

On the other side, we often have people say, "I am a good person. I don' t need God". And this is exactly what the Devil wants as this attitude will keep these people away from the love of God in Jesus Christ and thus cannot be saved. They fall into arrogance and self dependence. 

In today's passage, verse 10, it says, "There's no one righteous, not even one." Nine verses (verse 10-18) there consecutively describe how fallible human beings are. Nothing to brag about, to rely on, or to secure us. 

But God understands our weaknesses. He knows we are only dust. That's why Jesus was close to many sinners who came to Him for a new hope. Sin is not a difficult thing to Jesus. Because He would redeem every one who believes in Him. But those who rejected and do not believe Him that He criticized that they would die in their sins (John 8:23-24). 

Verse 20 says, "Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God’s sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin." As we try to be perfect by ourselves in performing all the laws and rules, at some point we come to realize how imperfect we are. Heaven is too high, too holy, too difficult to claim easily.

Jesus says, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." He is the Only One who reconciliates us with God the Father so we can enter the rest in the heavenly kingdom. Let's believe and rely on Him and not on ourselves. 

Reflection on Romans 3: 1-20 by Desire Litaay

(Listen to podcast here)

By His grace

“being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” – Romans 3:24

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God's Grace, Not Our Effort 

Life often feels like a competition. In school, at work, or in friendships, people try to prove their worth. Society tells us that success comes from working hard and doing good things. If we fail, we feel unworthy. Many people live with the pressure to be perfect.

Paul's message in Romans 3:19-31 reminds us that we cannot earn God's love by following rules or doing good deeds. The law shows us our mistakes, but it cannot save us. Just like in life, where we sometimes feel we are not good enough, we also fall short before God. But here is the good news—God does not love us because of what we do. He gives us His love and forgiveness as a gift.

Imagine a student who always struggles in school. No matter how hard they try, they feel like a failure. Then, a kind teacher steps in, helps them, and encourages them. The student succeeds; not because they were perfect, but because someone cared for them. This is what God does for us. He helps us, saves us, and gives us a new start; not because we deserve it, but because He loves us.

This passage also teaches us to treat others with kindness. If God accepts us, even with our mistakes, we should not judge others harshly. Instead, we should show grace and forgiveness, just as God does for us.

Romans 3:19-31 reminds us that we don't have to work for God's love. He gives it freely. Instead of trying to be perfect, we can trust in His grace and live with peace and joy.

Reflection on Romans 3:19-31 by Marlon Bobier Vargas, SVD

Benignitas Dei | God's kindness

"Or do you despise the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience? Do you not realize that God's kindness is meant to lead you to repentance?" – Romans 2: 4

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Dear friends in Christ Jesus, in this Bible passage St. Paul is reminding us about the righteous judgment of God. St. Paul is reminding us that either Jews or Greek when it comes to judgment, God shows no partiality (Rom. 2:11). All of us would agree with the fact that our God is a loving and merciful God. At the same time we are also reminded in this passage that we should not take God's mercy for granted.

God always allows us to get closer to him and have a deep relationship with him. We also make him disappointed by our sins and shortcomings. But always God wants us to repent for the wrong that we have done and again go back to him. We should not have the attitude that God is merciful so I can go on committing sins and after all he would forgive me all my sins. He gives us opportunities to repent and get back to him. So we just can't go on testing his patience.

The scripture says that God will repay according to each one's deeds. We read in Romans 2:7-8 –"to those who by patiently doing good and seeking for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; while those who are self - seeking and who obey not the truth but wickedness, there will be wrath and fury." 

Therefore my dear friends, let us not despise the kindness and forbearance and patience of God. Let us lead the path of repentance and give respect to God's mercy.

 

Bible Reflection on Romans 2: 1-16 by Fr. George Joseph SVD

(Listen to podcast here)

Figura futuri | A pattern of the one

“Adam is a pattern of the one to come” (Romans 5:14).

Who, then, is man? What is the true dignity of the human person? We may often feel our weakness and fragility. Yet, through divine grace, we are children of God, created in His image and likeness. This is a profound truth that should shape our understanding of ourselves and our purpose.

Like Adam, we are all subject to sin. We are, indeed, children of Adam, inheriting the consequences of his fall. However, we must never despair. As St. Paul also reminds us, 'where sin increased, grace increased all the more' (Romans 5:20). This is the heart of the Gospel: the boundless mercy of God, always offering us hope for holiness and chastity.

The season of Lent is a sacred time, a time for introspection and conversion. It calls us to examine our hearts and to turn away from sin. It is a time for personal transformation. We are called to change our ways of thinking, our attitudes, and our actions. This conversion, this turning back to God, is the most powerful solution to the conflicts that plague our world, our societies, our families, and our communities.

We are not alone in this journey. Jesus Christ is with us, always. Through our obedience and good example, as St. Paul says, 'many can be made righteous' (Romans 5:19). This echoes the teaching of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which states that "Christ's redemption won for us a new possibility: that of living in the Spirit of his love (CCC 1741)."

Do not be discouraged by past failures. Do not say, 'I have tried and failed.' Perhaps this very moment is your moment of grace. The grace of God desires to reign through you, in the world, in your family, and in your community. Jesus Christ desires to live through you in this present time.

We know that sin will always be present in the world. But the grace of God is infinitely more powerful. As St. Paul writes in Romans 6:23, "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." Though we may experience the death of sin, we can also experience the resurrection of grace. This victory is not achieved through our own strength or wisdom, but through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As Pope Francis has reminded us, “God never tires of forgiving us; we are the ones who tire of seeking his mercy.” Let us, therefore, embrace God’s mercy, allow His grace to transform us, and become instruments of His love in the world. Amen.

Reflection on Rom 5:12 – 21 by Józef.

(Listen to podcast here)

Did not honor him

So they are without excuse;  for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened - Romans 1:20-21

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Reflecting on my own Christian journey, and the verses from Romans 1:20-21 So they are without excuse;  for though they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their senseless minds were darkened, and verses 24-25: Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the degrading of their bodies among themselves,  because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever.

I too was once trapped in the bondage of a dark & hidden sin that ultimately destroyed my marriage. It gave me a depraved mind and an unrepentant heart that refused to submit to God's Will, even though I thought I was faithfully serving in church and even able to quote Bible verses. Out of sinful human pride, I had continued to indulge in that shameful habit.

God the Father in His infinite mercy, saw through the wretched state of my sinful heart, did not give up on me. But He sent to my aid, counsellors, therapists, and godly friends who were able to help me to uncover the root cause of these deeply rooted dark habits. Slowly but surely with His refining fire, helped to burn away the dross of impure thoughts, words and actions. Just like the Divine Potter who breaks His clay repeatedly, until it is molded into His desired useful shape.

As St Paul wrote in Romans 8:28:  We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. Or as the prophet Jeremiah reminded all of us in Jeremiah 29:11:  For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.

God the Father had allowed the fiery trials of a physical, mental and emotional breakdown to shape my body, soul and spirit, more into the likeness of His one and only Begotten Son, our LORD Jesus Christ.

This is my prayer, that all of us at the end of running this race called life, may stare with unveiled faces at the fullness of God's glory in His Heavenly Court, and echo what St Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 4:7-8 : I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. From now on there is reserved for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give me on that day, and not only to me but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

I'll close my short sharing with this song of thanksgiving which always brings a tear to my eyes whenever I hear or sing it in church:  "Thank You Lord (For the Trials That Come My Way)."

Thank You Lord (For the Trials That Come My Way)

Verse 1

Thank You Lord

for the trials that come my way.

In that way I can grow each day

as I let You lead,

And I thank You, Lord,

for the patience those trials bring.

In that process of growing,

I can learn to care.

 

Chorus

 

But it goes against the way I am

To put my human nature down

and let the Spirit take control of all I do.

'Cause when those trials come,

My human nature shouts the thing to do;

And God's soft prompting

Can be easily ignored.

 

Verse 2

 

I thank you, Lord,

with each trial I feel inside,

that You're there to help,

lead and guide me away from wrong.

'Cause You promised, Lord,

That with every testing,

That Your way of escaping is easier to bear.

 

(Repeat Chorus)

 

I thank You, Lord,

For the victory that growing brings.

In surrender of everything

Life is so worthwhile.

And I thank You, Lord,

that when everything's put in place,

Out in front I can see Your face,

And it's there You belong 

Youtube: https://youtu.be/RkzLQojR8Rg?si=TorlwhXImziZ8d7S © 1972 by Lexicon Music Inc Writer: Dan Burgess CCLI #15276   Reflection on Romans 1:18-32 by Chris

Sine prohibitione | Without hindrance

“With all boldness and without hindrance” (Acts 28:31).

Brothers and sisters, our passage concludes the book of Acts with a powerful image: the Apostle Paul, under house arrest in Rome, "proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance."

Paul is literally chained to a Roman guard, confined to a rented house, awaiting trial before Caesar – and yet Luke describes his ministry as "without hindrance." What a remarkable paradox!

This challenges our natural assumption that freedom means the absence of limitations. Paul found his greatest freedom precisely when his external circumstances were most constrained.

I'm reminded of the remarkable story of Joni Eareckson Tada. As a teenager in 1967, Joni dove into shallow water, broke her neck, and was paralyzed from the shoulders down. She initially fell into deep depression, struggling to find purpose in a life now severely limited by her physical condition.

But something extraordinary happened. Joni began painting by holding a brush between her teeth. Her artwork gained attention, opening doors for her to share her faith. She founded Joni and Friends, a ministry that has provided wheelchairs to thousands of people with disabilities in developing countries and established retreats for families affected by disability.

Through her books, speaking, advocacy, and ministry, Joni has touched millions of lives around the world – all from the confines of a wheelchair. Despite chronic pain and numerous health challenges over five decades, she has recorded several albums, written over 50 books, and become one of the most influential Christian voices on suffering and disability.

Joni once said, "I really do believe that God uses brokenness, such as my quadriplegia, as a vehicle through which His power can be displayed." 

Like Paul in that Roman house, Joni discovered that limitations don't have to hinder God's purposes. In fact, her limitations became the very vessels through which God's power was most clearly displayed.

Paul's example reminds us that the gospel cannot be chained. Throughout Acts, we've seen how persecution, imprisonment, shipwreck, and now house arrest all served to advance rather than impede God's mission. 

And notice what Paul does during these two years of confinement. He doesn't complain about his circumstances or lobby for his release. Instead, he welcomes visitors, teaches Scripture, and proclaims Christ. He transforms his limitation into an opportunity.

Each of us faces limitations – physical constraints, financial restrictions, family obligations, health challenges. The question is not whether we will face limitations, but how we will respond to them.

Will we, like Paul and Joni, discover that God's power works most perfectly in our weakness? Will we find, as they did, that our greatest ministry might happen not despite our limitations but through them?

As we close the book of Acts, remember that while the narrative ends, the mission continues. The same Spirit that empowered Paul empowers us. The same gospel that could not be hindered then cannot be hindered now.

Whatever chains you face today, whatever limitations confine you, know this: God's purpose for your life remains unhindered. Your circumstances may restrict your movement, but they cannot restrict God's movement through you.

May we all find, like Paul in his chains, the freedom to proclaim Christ with boldness, without hindrance, right where we are.

Reflection on Acts 28:17 – 31 by Józef.

(Listen to podcast here)