Brethren, we know that everything works for good with those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. For those whom he foreknew He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, in order that He might be the first-born among many brethren. And those whom He predestined He also called; and those whom He called He also justified; and those whom He justified He also glorified.
What then shall we say to this? If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all, will He not also give us all things with him? Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies; who is to condemn? It is Christ Jesus, who died, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed intercedes for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, “For thy sake we are being killed all the day long; we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.” No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:28-39 (Epistle for the Feast of St. Tryphon)
On February 1, the Church celebrates the Feast of St. Tryphon. He lived in the third century and was martyred in the year 250 A.D. In his life, he is one of the saints who was an unmercenary healer, going from place to place and working healings and miracles without pay. He was particularly known for healing animals and today is the patron saint of those working on farms as well as gardeners.
The Epistle read on his feast day is from Romans 8:28-39. This passage is one of the most comforting in the Bible, because it reassures us that no unfortunate circumstance can separate us from the love of God. Indeed, many people, like St. Tryphon, were being persecuted and dying prematurely. Saint Paul, who wrote his epistle to the Romans two centuries before the death of St. Tryphon, was himself imprisoned and martyred. He was jailed, shipwrecked, mocked and had many other calamities befall him. And in the centuries since St. Paul, St. Tryphon and up through today, people who are Christians are victims of persecutions, and on an even more common level, unfortunate circumstances—illness, job challenges, anxiety, lack of self-confidence, the list goes on and on.
In our circumstances of despair, there is the temptation to question the will of God, the goodness of God, and even the existence of God. We’ve all been there. Sometimes it is difficult to find the goodness of God in an unfortunate or painful chapter in our lives. Yet, St. Paul boldly writes We know that in everything God works for good with those who love Him, who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28) This verse recalls a verse from the Old Testament. In the book of Genesis, Joseph is sold into slavery by his brothers. Years later, thriving in Egypt, he spares the world from famine. But it is YEARS later and he suffers greatly over those years. When he confronts his brothers, who are both scared and sorrowful, he says to them “As for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive, as they are today.” (Genesis 50:20) Sometimes the sorrow or suffering might go on for years, or even for a lifetime, and it is only much later that we find the goodness of God in unfortunate circumstance. This is why they call it faith—because if everything is known, there is no need for faith.
St. Paul continues, If God is for us, who is against us? (Romans 8:31) In other words, when it is people who cause our calamity, we cling to the fact that God is for us. And God understands our pain because He who did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us all (8:32). He writes that In all these things (tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril and the sword—all mentioned in 8:35), we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. (8:37) In other words, we don’t lose God’s love because of any of these things. St. Paul concludes this chapter of Romans with the bold statement that I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor power, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. (8:38-39) Each year on Pascha, I offer a short reflection right before midnight. On Pascha 2020, the church was empty, as we were in the midst of the Covid pandemic. People were sick, scared, frustrated, angry, isolated, not allowed to congregate in large groups, life was disrupted. And I remember that in my reflection that year, I talked about Romans 8:38-39, that even this unfortunate, inconvenient and scary circumstance could not separate us from the love of God. Indeed, nothing can separate us from that except ourselves. And even then, when we sin and turn our backs on God, God still wants us, God still wants to love us. God never abandons us.
Your Martyr, O Lord, was worthily awarded by You, the crown of incorruption, in that he contested for You our immortal God. Since he possessed Your power, he defeated the tyrants, dashing the demons’ powerless displays of defiance. O Christ God, at his fervent entreaties, save our souls. (Apolytikion for St. Tryphon, Trans. by Fr. Seraphim Dedes)
In the times that life feels bleak, we have to remember that God still loves us, and that in everything God works for good with those who love Him. (8:28)
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