Today's text comes from a section of Paul's letter to the Romans that exhorts this community to display proper Christian behaviors and attitudes. In verses 8-10, immediately preceding the reading, there is a description of what should be the ultimate guiding principle in every Christian's life - love. The pre-eminence of love is mandated not just to fulfill all the past demands of the law. Love is also the appropriate attitude and course of action necessary to see Christians into the eschatological future that awaits all believers. Love in action must be demonstrated by Christians both now and in this future.

Paul's language here is unabashedly eschatological in tone, tenor and texture. For this apostle, the imminence of Christ's return added to the urgency of his message. Paul's use of th…