Romans 1:17ff A Prophetic Interpretation of Reality for Our Times?

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markomalley

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Note to Matilda (or other mod): I put this in “social justice” vice “Sacred Scripture” due to the currency of the topic being discussed.

From the Archdiocese of Washington’s own, Msgr Pope, we have the following:

Scripture is a prophetic interpretation of reality. That is, it tells us what is really going on from the perspective of the Lord of History. As an inspired text it traces out not only the current of the times, but also the trajectory, the end to which things tend. It is of course important for us to read Scripture with the Church and exercise the care the Church would have us show and, at the end of the day, to submit our understanding to the rule of faith and the context of Sacred Tradition.

With those parameters in mind, I would like to consider Romans 1, wherein St. Paul describes the grave condition of the Greco-Roman culture of his day. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit he prophetically interpreted those times of the First Century AD. And, though the text speaks specifically to those times, it is easily evident that our current times are becoming almost identical to what St. Paul and the Holy Spirit described.

St. Paul saw a once noble culture that was in grave crisis and was in the process of being plowed under by God for its willful suppression of the truth.

Let’s take a look at the details of this prophetic interpretation of those days and apply it to our own. The text opens without any niceties, and words reach us almost like lead pellets.

*Read the rest here

*This is a really good analysis of the spiritual underpinnings for what is currently going on in re DOMA, Gay Pride, and many other things. His words are well worth considering.
 
What are the odds of this. I read Saint Paul’s letter to the Romans last week quite at random and felt the exact same way reading Romans 1. I was hoping and praying that the USA might be able to withstand the trend of our times and begin to reverse it and set an example to the nations that would inspire hope and people to return to their senses. Unfortunately things seem to be happening there the same way they happened elsewhere: hurricane homosexuality just blasts through and leaves everyone in confusion and disarray.

I remember also thinking that interpreting and applying anything prophetic - especially apocalyptic - should be held in serious suspicion when reading sacred Scripture as our imagination or fancy can get the best of us. But as I read the texts in context and the other relevant texts I increasingly felt that denying the correspondence was no longer a prudent and humble reserve but would be more like outright wilful denial. The correspondence is uncanny in that text (Romans 1) and the others in the NT with the same theme for our cultural times (e.g., 2 Peter 2).

Still, I also believe that homosexualism of its nature is like a wildfire that can and probably will burn itself out. Today is like the height of the drunkeness of revelry; but soon comes the hangover though, for sure, not after much destruction and lawlessness. Perhaps SSM will even be formally enshrined in US federal laws. Notwithstanding, the future belongs to those who do not wage war on reality and even mother nature herself. The Church may just have to -with God’s almighty help- be like our Lord who mariculously escaped -passed through- the crowd turned mob who were trying to lay their violent and impudent hands on Him. We also, I suspect, will have to do something similar: that, at least, is the more optimistic hope and strategy for living through these dark days, I think.

May the Lord’s holy Angels guard us, the Church, protect us and keep us safe from every evil machination of the devil and the unnatural lusts and vices of a godless generation; and I believe they will if we have faith and we shall be preserved.
 
I am constantly seeing the prophetic nature of Scripture when I read the Mass reading each day. Pray. Pray. Pray.
 
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