Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

Lent 2 - Year A

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

In today's Wisconsin and other struggles to make sense of an economy, a key is a definition of work. We have separated the benefit of personal physical work from cultural financial work. In so doing real work has become making private capital work for you rather than you working for communal capital. Making money becomes the end game, not developing care for self and neighbor.

Try substituting "money" for "works" in this passage and see how this works in today's world.

Now to one who has money, their return is not reckoned as a gift but as something due. But to the one who, without money, trusts forces pulling us toward a new community....

Theories of job creation by money (tax and other benefits to the already rich and removal of organizing and other benefits to the present poor) is a promise as weak as that of "inheriting the world".

This passage reminds us to look for a light beyond the present and that journeying is not just a private matter. If we are about the business of calling into existence that which does not yet exist there are some important questions to be asked without being blinded by money in a money culture. We must be born from above the money fray. So, where are you putting your faith? - in a larger grace than profit and intended benefit to our (beyond my) descendents?