Homily for Thursday, Week 30 of Ordinary Time

Homily for Thursday
30th Week of Ordinary Time

Oct. 30, 2025
Rom 8: 31-39
St. Joseph’s Residence, N.R.

“Who will bring a charge against God’s chosen ones?” (Rom 8: 33).

Satan is the fearsome adversary of the human race.  In some biblical literature, e.g., the book of Job, he stands ready to act as the prosecutor when a man or woman comes to judgment.

Satan and Job
The William Blake Archive, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/

That seems to be what Paul pictures in Romans 8.  Our sins have given the prosecutor plenty of ammo to fire against us and to condemn us.  But, Paul says, we have an unbeatable defender:  “Christ Jesus who died, was raised, and intercedes for us” (8:34).  Nothing can overwhelm our cause when Jesus stands with us:  no earthly power, no demonic power.  In Christ, God acquits us (8:33), and nothing can tear us away from his love, the love that gave himself completely to us, for us.  He vanquishes our sins, and so vanquishes our adversary (cf. 8:37).

The Triumph of Christianity
(Gustave Dore')

When Christ claims us, “no other creature can separate us from the love of God” (8:39), and we shall be saved at judgment.