The Gospel for all People | The Rev. John Sundara

In our reading from Romans today, Paul describes Jesus in exactly that way.

He describes Jesus as someone in whose presence we can be who we are, and he makes us feel good about who we are.

Listen to what he says in Romans 10, verse 11.

Paul says that anyone who puts their faith in Jesus, anyone who trusts in Jesus, anyone who believes in Jesus will not be ashamed.

Anyone who trusts in Jesus will not be ashamed.

Shame is a powerful, potent, paralyzing human experience, isn't it? Shame has this incredible power to just destroy us.

Shame has this incredible power to make us feel like we are totally empty of confidence, totally empty of competence.

Shame makes us question our self-worth.

Shame makes us feel like we don't have the dignity that we believe that we have.

Shame takes away our sense of being loved and accepted for who we are.

Shame is like an emotional hijacker.

a spiritual kidnapper.

When shame enters into our souls, it robs us like a bandit.

It robs us of who we truly are, of who God truly created us to be.

Shame robs us of who God created us to be.

But look at what Paul says about Jesus.

He says, anyone who puts their faith in him will not be ashamed, will not be ashamed.

In fact, Paul goes on in just the next verse in Romans 10, verse 12.

He says that Jesus bestows riches.

Riches, blessings, wealth, treasure, spiritual ones, of course.

But Jesus bestows all these riches upon all those who call upon his name.

In fact, you could even say that the greatest treasure of our souls is Christ Jesus himself.

Thomas Akempis, he was a 14th century monk.

He wrote a wonderful little book called The Imitation of Christ.

And in that book, he says this, if Jesus be with you, no enemy, shame for example, no enemy can harm you.