Chapter 8, verses 18 to 25.

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time

are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us.

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God.

For the creation was subjected to futility,

not willingly, but because of him who subjected it

in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and obtained the freedom of the glory of the children of God.

For we know that the whole creation has been children of God.

For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth

until now, and not only the creation, but we ourselves who have the first fruits of the spirit grown inwardly as we wait eagerly

for adoption as sons the redemption of our bodies.

For in this hope we were saved.

Now hope that his seen is not hope, for who hopes for what he sees.

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

This is the word of God.

You may be seated.

As I prayed and reflected on what I should bring to you from God's word the situation in the world pressed itself upon me and I thought it would be fitting that I try to bring the supremacy of

Christ into relationship to the calamities and conflicts that

are all around us.

And I have in mind Japan with thousands of people swept away in a morning and radiation every day, threatening to engulf the land.

I have in mind Libya and Syria and Egypt and Bahrain and Yemen and Saudi Arabia,

terrorism in Jerusalem and anarchy in Gaza,

...