If children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ – if, in fact, we suffer with him.
Jeremiah 18:6
This scripture comes to us from St. Paul’s Epistle to the Romans. It is believed that he wrote this letter prior to his visit to the Church of Rome, to the people of this church. The Church of Rome consisted primarily of Gentiles, but there was also a minority of Jews. The primary theme in this book, or the message that is believed that Paul was trying to convey, is God’s plan of salvation and righteousness for all humankind. Jesus taught us that each of us is a child of God. This means that we are brothers and sisters. Through our faith we are taught that we are the children of the one true God. Also, this means that the Lord Jesus is our brother.
If we are brothers and sisters to our Savior, then we are to also suffer with him. Both Lent and Easter provide us with the opportunity to suffer with our Lord and then to be risen with him on Easter. We suffer with him when we are baptized into his death. We suffer with him through his Crucifixion. We must always be ready to bear the cross. If we do all of these things then we also shall be glorified together with him. What an awesome concept. As children of God we are also his heirs. Through this inheritance we inherit all of God’s grace, his love and all that he offers to us.
Joe Carta
