Sermon 19th July 2026 – 8th Sunday after Pentecost
Text:
Romans 8:12-25 – The awaiting glory
Today,
we hear another powerful message from St Paul where he speaks about suffering. It’s
a little bit different to an earlier message about suffering where he said that
he rejoices in his suffering because it produces perseverance, character and
hope. His message is still a message of hope. But this time the hope is about
the promise of future comfort.
In
fact it is more than comfort. He writes, "I consider that the sufferings
of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be
revealed to us." This statement
brings hope of our Christian journey. It doesn’t deny our present suffering but
it puts it in comparison to what God has in store for us in Heaven.
So
he begins by acknowledging the reality of suffering in our lives. Each of us, in some way, can relate to the
burdens we carry—whether they be physical, emotional, or spiritual. And even the world around us, the creation we
live in that God created lives in despair. We see injustice, violence, and division. And if we look at the very first violence
written in the bible, the murder of Abel by his brother Cain, it was not just
Abel who was dealt the injustice but all Creation. When God confronted Cain
over the murder he said: “What have you done? Listen! Your brother’s blood
cries out to me from the ground. The groanings of creation are evident as we
witness the effects of pollution, war, crime, poverty, and the multitude of
challenges facing humanity today.
In
the midst of these struggles, St. Paul invites us to look beyond our present
circumstances—to see the "glory that is to be revealed to us." It’s similar to what he says in Colossians
chapter 3: Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on
things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds
on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now
hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you
also will appear with him in glory. What does this glory that Paul speaks about
so often mean? It refers to the ultimate fulfillment of God’s promises to us. A
reality that surpasses our understanding and experience. It is the glory of
being united with Christ in His resurrection, where every tear will be wiped
away and every pain will be healed. This
is not merely a future hope but a present reality that sustains us through our
trials.
St.
Paul emphasizes the groaning of creation, which waits in eager anticipation for
the revelation of the children of God. Creation,
too, longs for this release from suffering. And this release will come from God, not us. This
is not about reaching net zero to reverse climate change. No – that is made
made. Creation is waiting for God to relieve its present suffering.
This
gives us a profound insight into our relationship with the world around us. Remember, Adam was created from the dust of
the ground by God. We are not just passive inhabitants of this earth; rather,
we are stewards of God's creation.
Remember
what God said after he completed creation – he said to Adam and Eve - God
blessed them and said to them,
“Be
fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Our actions, our
care, and our love for one another as well as the environment reflect our
understanding of this hope.
As
we journey with our own struggles, we must remember that the waiting is not in
vain. St. Paul assures us that we are
not alone in our waiting. The Spirit helps us in our weakness and intercedes
for us with sighs too deep for words. In
times of suffering it can be hard to pray. Hard to find the words to speak. Whether
it’s our own suffering or the suffering of a loved one – sometimes there are no
words. When we don’t know how to pray, the Spirit intercedes. The Spirit prays for us with words we can’t
speak. When we don’t know what to hope for, the Spirit hopes within us. When our strength fails, the Spirit carries
us. Our groaning is not a sign of spiritual failure — it is the Spirit’s work
in us, pulling us toward the fullness of God’s future. God Himself walks with
us, bearing our burdens and supporting us as we carry our own. This passage invites us to embrace a deeper
understanding of hope—it is not a wishful yearning for a better tomorrow but a
confident assurance rooted in faith.
Christian
hope is active; it calls us to participate in God’s work and to be agents of
change and love in a world that so desperately needs both. So, how can we
embody this hope in our daily lives? First,
we can be examples of gratitude, recognizing the blessings we have even amidst
our suffering. We can reach out to those
who are suffering, offering compassion and support. We can become voices for the voiceless,
advocates for justice, and agents of peace in our communities. Which is exactly
what Jesus did in his earthly mission as he reached out to the marginalised. As
we reflect on our own lives, let us mirror St. Paul’s understanding that our
present sufferings are not our final destination. They are part of the journey
toward the incredible inheritance waiting for us as children of God. Paul tells
us that life in the Spirit is not an escape from struggle but a transformation
of it. We groan, creation groans, yet
hope groans louder. The Spirit meets us
in our weakness, reminding us who we are and where we’re headed: toward the
full redemption of God’s children.
Let us hold fast to that hope and trust that,
though we may experience difficulty today, we serve a God who transforms
suffering into glory. Let us carry the message of hope in our lives and into
the lives of those around us. As we
await the fullness of the true life that awaits, let us live in a way that
reflects the love of Christ, embracing both our struggles and our
triumphs—confident in the promise of the glory to come. Creation is groaning.
We are groaning. But the Spirit is groaning too — and the Spirit’s groaning is
the sound of resurrection being born.
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