We who are strong ought to put up with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves; 2 let each of us please our neighbor for the good, for building up. 3 For Christ did not please himself; but, as it is written, “The insults of those who insult you fall upon me.” 4 For whatever was written previously was written for our instruction, that by endurance and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to think in harmony with one another, in keeping with Christ Jesus, 6 that with one accord you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God’s Fidelity and Mercy.
7 Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God. 8 For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, to confirm the promises to the patriarchs, 9 but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written: “Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing praises to your name.” 10 And again it says: “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.” 11 And again: “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him.” 12 And again Isaiah says: “The root of Jesse shall come, raised up to rule the Gentiles; in him shall the Gentiles hope.” 13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the holy Spirit.
Those who are strong in faith are told by Paul to help the weak bear their burdens and to be patient with those who are not mature in the faith. The strong in faith should help the personal development of the weak so that the community is built up. Christ did not please himself but endured all kinds of humiliation for our salvation (Ps. 69:8-10). When Jesus’ suffering is viewed in the context of OT scripture it is the basis for Christian hope. Christ who is far superior to us gave us the example so we should, in turn, do the same to help those who are weaker than we are. Christ’s sacrifice was motivated by love for us so we must in turn be motivated by love to please others, not ourselves, thereby uplifting the community and strengthening the Church. In so doing we glorify God. Paul prays for harmony.
Paul appeals to the Romans for unity in the Church based on the example Christ set. He asks them to follow Christ’s command, “As I have loved you, so you also should love one another (Jn. 13:34)” for the glory of God (Phil. 1:11). Jesus became a Jew (circumcised) so that he could minister to the Jews to confirm the truth of God’s promises to the patriarchs, but both Jews and Gentiles will share in these promises in due time (Ps. 18:50). Paul uses quotes from the OT to support what he is telling the Christian community in Rome before he gives the final blessing (Ps. 117:1; Is. 11:10). Jews and Gentiles should place their hope in God.
Almighty God, Christ bore our sins in his body and healed us by his wounds. Help us to practice the same charity by having our eyes fixed on Christ as we strengthen our brothers and sisters while building up his Church. This we pray through the same Christ our Lord. Amen!
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.
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