Paul’s comments in today’s second reading were directed to members of the Christian community at Rome who were suffering persecution.  It seems that the complaint of persecution was being made by the gentile converts in the community. 

It is very plausible that the gentile converts in Rome were being persecuted, or at least harassed, by their pagan former associates or relatives.  This conjecture is based on Paul’s triumphant claim at the end of today’s reading. 

Paul wrote, “I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor present things, nor future things, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rm 8:38-39)  The death, life, principalities, present things, future things, powers, height, depth, and other creatures are references to astrology and the role it played in the lives of pagans in the ancient world. 

Paul’s contemporaries were no more or less superstitious than our contemporaries; one of the favorite superstitions during Paul’s lifetime was the belief that the movement of planets and stars influenced, or determined, the fate of humans.  In order to address the complaints of persecution, Paul used the terminology commonly employed by astrologers. 

“Life and death” were typical consequences predicted by astrologers.  “Powers and principalities” were the spiritual forces that moved the stars and planets and, thereby, determined the fate of humans.  “Present and future things” was a reference to the kind of predictions made by astrologers, and “height and depth” were references to the observed positions of certain stars and planets considered to have unique influence over human destiny. 

Although the language is unfamiliar to us, Paul’s message should be very familiar.  He was telling those who were being ridiculed and persecuted for their Christian faith that the charges being leveled against them were based on pure nonsense.  Paul tried to reassure the Church members at Rome that the pagans who claimed that Christian converts were bringing destruction on themselves by ignoring the power of celestial forces were making judgments based on falsehood.  As the threats and judgements were based on falsehoods, those Christian converts should not worry about their eternal fate. 

The type of criticism leveled at Christians today differs from the criticism made by ancient pagans, but the nature of the criticism remains the same: it is nonsense and not to be taken seriously. 

There are many criticisms aimed at Christian believers today; some have a long history, and others are more recent.  It has long been the practice to criticize Christians for believing not only in a God but in a God who is merciful.  Similarly, Christians have been ridiculed for adhering to a Scripturally based morality that disallows theft, dishonesty, infidelity, greed, pride, and selfishness.   

More recently, some who have adopted the name “Christian” have criticized Jesus’ disciples for imitating Jesus’ concern for the poor, the forgotten, the marginalized, and the powerless.  These criticisms are particularly disturbing because they attempt to redefine the Christian Faith as an economic or cultural system rather than single-hearted adherence to the teachings of Jesus. 

Although Paul was writing to people in a situation very different from our own, his words are directly applicable to believers today.  Nothing can separate us from the love of God made manifest in Jesus the Savior.  Those who condemn Jesus’ followers because they show mercy to strangers and outcasts, as Jesus did, are not to be trusted.  Those who condemn believers for being quick to forgive insults and injuries because Jesus commanded it, are not to be taken seriously.  Those who use religion to legitimize the selfish pursuit of power and wealth are to be neither believed nor imitated. 

“What will separate us from the love of Christ?” (Rm 8:35)  It will not be “anguish, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or the sword” that separates us from God. (Rm 8:35)  Only our own lack of faith can separate us from the God who shows mercy to those who love him.