Galatians 5:1-6
For the last week and a half, our first reading has been taken from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians. Paul writes this letter because rival missionaries had come into Galatia and claimed believers had to follow the Mosaic Law and undergo circumcision to be saved. For Paul, the Mosaic law or what he calls “works of the law” was a shorthand expression for the entire liturgical and ceremonial rituals given by Moses.
In Paul’s mind, the essence of the Gospel was at stake. Essentially, his letter to the Galatians addresses how do we get right (become justified) with God? How are we adopted into God’s family? How do we grow up in God’s family? And how are we saved (or enter in God’s family in heaven)?
In his letter to the Galatians, we see how passionate Paul was about the way that God restores us to right relationship with Him. It is not by works of the law, but rather by faith in Jesus Christ. It is through Jesus and faith in Him that we are brought into God’s family and hence, into right relationship with God. The Mosaic Law, for its part, was a temporary guardian that pointed people to the coming of Christ.
Additionally, once we enter God’s family through faith, we must grow up as a child of God by faith working through love. In other words, it is not a passive faith that saves us, but rather a faith infused by love of God and neighbor.
As Catholics, we know it is through baptism (the sacrament of faith) that we are brought into God’s family (i.e., the Church). Additionally, every sacrament requires faith in that it is an encounter with Jesus Christ wherein He nourishes, heals, and strengthens us in our faith. The sacraments help us grow in faith.
Tomorrow, Paul will address how we live our faith in God’s family. There is great freedom in Christ, but it is a freedom guided by the Spirit. There are certain lifestyles and abuses of freedom that harm our faith and relationship with Jesus. And there are lifestyles and choices that nourish our faith in Him. In short, we must allow the Holy Spirit to guide us in our walk with Christ.
Today, take time in prayer thanking God for the gift of Jesus and for faith in Him (and your baptism!). And in prayer, ask for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit to “live in Christ” as a member of His family so that God willing, one day you will see Him face-to-face and enjoy eternal life in His family – the Communion of Saints! 🙂
~St. Thérèse, pray for us!