Romans 8:12-17

Pentecost +1 (Trinity) – Year B

Romans 8:12-17

"All who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God." (vs 14)

While "led" usually has a sense of direction about it, perhaps a goose leading goslings, there are also available overtones of time, as in creation preceding but still partnered with creatures. Following the partnership of creation model we might move a bit away from a tendency to an exclusivist view of this passage and say, "All who are in a creation-partnered/adopted relationship with the Spirit of G*D are G*D's kin." A question of whom this leaves out need to be addressed and we can easily respond – no one is left out.

In this cloning of G*D or holographing of G*D we find strength and courage to be constituent parts of creation. Antidotes to fear (non-creation) abound, the trick is to recognize and use them.

Suffering/Glorification become markers, though not always helpful ones, of how we are doing in relation to fear – standing up and overcoming. But they are after-the-fact descriptions that tend to get us back into an unhelpful spirit/flesh dichotomy rather than deepening our relationship with G*D and One Another.

I expect it is helpful to continue this passage on a bit to the freedom found in labor to birth a new creation. Blessings upon your simply having been created and your even simpler partnership in advancing creation.