Action Changes Things (ACT)

A Reflection for Tuesday, March 25 by Rev. Alka Lyall

Lectionary reading for 3/25/2025: Psalm 39; Ezekiel 17:1-10; Romans 2:12-16

Selected passage for reflection:  Romans 2:12-16

Read 

Romans 2:12-16 (CEB)

12 Those who have sinned outside the Law will also die outside the Law, and those who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. 13 It isn’t the ones who hear the Law who are righteous in God’s eyes. It is the ones who do what the Law says who will be treated as righteous. 14 Gentiles don’t have the Law. But when they instinctively do what the Law requires they are a Law in themselves, though they don’t have the Law. 15 They show the proof of the Law written on their hearts, and their consciences affirm it. Their conflicting thoughts will accuse them, or even make a defense for them, 16 on the day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the hidden truth about human beings through Christ Jesus.

Reflect

One thing I can say about Paul, the author of this letter to the church in Rome- you can love him, you can dislike him, but you can not ignore him. He has been travelling around teaching and preaching about Jesus with such intensity that sometimes he sounds very inconsiderate. He had persecuted God’s people for so long, and now that he has experienced God’s love, he is committed to bringing as many people to experience that same love.

In today’s passage Paul is focused on judgement. Who will be judged and how will they be judged? Have you ever been judged?  I don’t know about you, but I know that I do not like to be judged! I don’t want anyone to judge me. Every person desires to be loved and accepted as they are. And because we desire to not be judged, we must be intentional in making sure those around us also feel loved, accepted and welcomed without judgement. Just desiring that everyone is loved and accepted will be like the faith without action that Paul is talking about in this Romans 2:2-16.

As a famous quote reminds us, “The road to hell is paved with good intentions.” Without action the intentions are meaningless. Our actions have the potential to change things. Our faith calls us to action. Our faith calls us to love. Our faith calls us to accept without judgement as we have been loved and accepted by God.

Respond 

Spend some time in silent meditation allowing the scripture and the reflection to find grounding in your being.

Is there a word or a phrase that has resonated with you? Spend a few moments with that word/phrase.

What message does it have for you? How does it encourage you to ACT?

Try to pay more attention to the people around you today. Look at people without judgment about their looks or condition. Share a smile with random people walking by you. Help someone you might encounter during the day.

Rest 

Divine Creator, as we journey through this season of Lent, open our hearts and our minds in a way that the scriptures we read reveal to us truths that we need to see today. Empower and embolden us to give feet to our prayers and action to our faith. In your holy name we ask, AMEN 

About the Author 

Rev. Alka Lyall is an ordained elder in the United Methodist Church serving an urban congregation in Chicago. A mother of two grown sons, she enjoys crocheting and walking by Lake Michigan in her free time.