Being AGLOW

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary - feast

Romans 12:9-16

Luke 1:39-56

The Visitation, detail by Luca della Robbia 1400-1482

I love this feast

I love scrolling through the artistic interpretations of The Visit 

And I love these two readings together…how Paul gets at what makes Mary glow.

At this point in the letter to the Romans, Paul moves from the agape of God, to the agape (genuine love) that is the identifying characteristic of life lived in Christian community.

(v9a) Let love be genuine; 

A nice tone

(v9b) Hate what is evil, 
cleave to what is good:

Seems obvious…but Hate and Cleave…strong words, the actions that will follow from them will require strength

(v10) With the love of brothers and sisters, 
show each other family affection; 
anticipate one another in showing respect;

Be a unit, don’t live in competition but ‘anticipate’ to maintain closeness

(v11) Cast off all slackness in your eagerness, 
be aglow with the Spirit, 
in service make the most of the time remaining

Love is on the move.  Not passive but active.  Aglow is the evidence. The         present time…here, now…is gift

(v12) Rejoice in your hope, 
be steadfast in affliction, 
persevere in prayer

But always on the horizon is joy…the promise hoped for…tasted in the present…it makes for glowing

(v13) Contribute to the needs of the saints, 
seek out opportunity to show hospitality

Such a sure sign!

(v14) Bless those who persecute you; 
bless them and do not curse them 

A twice injunction.  Paul knows how hard this is. What if I saw every instance of not out-right blessing as cursing…what would be the balance of my day: blessing or cursing?

(v15-16) Rejoice with those who rejoice, 
weep with those who weep  
Aim at having a common mind amongst yourselves; 
do not adopt a haughty frame of mind, 
but associate with the lowly; 
be not wise in your own thoughts.

Seek COMMUNION