Hey Y’all,
Way back in A.D. 48-55, at least at some point in those 7 years, St. Paul was writing to some former Pagan folks who came to know and follow Jesus due to Paul’s preaching and mentoring friendship. These nascent Christians lived in present day Türkiye (the country formally known as Turkey) in one of the two regions known as Galatia. That writing from way back when is now known as the Epistle of St. Paul to the Galatians. And we’re asked to consider the last 4 verses of this letter as our second reading today. In this passage, we get a bit of insight into dear ol’ St. Paul and his theology. We can then apply that insight to our own way of thinking and being.
When St. Paul writes, “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ” he is not being prideful. He is stating the fact that the Gospel of Jesus isn’t being manipulated by him, making himself out to be the one who is right, or good, or smart, or powerful, or a guru. Those folks, the “judaizers”, that St. Paul was writing against, did boast that they were right, that they were powerful, that they were the correct gurus. They selfishly manipulated the Gospel for their own benefit. Unfortunately, too often we’ve seen Catholic leaders, Christian leaders, and even rank and file folks who identify as Christians acting in ways of being entitled, or for their egos, or their worldly benefit in the name of Christ or the Church. St. Paul pointed out it wasn’t good then, it’s still not good now.
St. Paul goes on to say that the worldly need for control and ego and power and glory was “crucified” to him. Because in the grace of God, and his faith in God’s love, mercy and promise, which is made summary in his relationship with Christ Jesus, he is a new creature in God’s new “creation”.
This is a quick short distillation from St. Paul’s writing way back when to the Galatians. So how do we apply it to our lives? Well, feel free to join me in asking ourselves some questions – much like an examination of conscience… Are we leading anyone astray from the Gospel? Are we a type of “Judaizer”, maybe not in a commanding sense of practicing kosher law, but in the way of being rigid, or self-righteous, or hypocrites. Do we use God or the Church to manipulate others for our benefit? Are we seeking to have our egos inflated at the expense of God or the Gospel? Are we “crucified” to the world? (These are questions I ask myself constantly, lest I lead a little one astray. Remember that other Gospel passage about a millstone tied around somebody’s neck. I consider all this seriously. I’m certain that St. Paul also knew this cautionary metaphor written up later in St. Matthew’s Gospel.) Do we consider ourselves new creatures in Christ? Do we live out God’s new “creation”?
I’m bringing this up to show our need to use Scripture from way back when to help us in the here and now!
Finally take comfort in another couple of verses from this 2nd reading. St. Paul, from 2000 years ago, offer us “Peace and mercy be to all who follow this rule”… and “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen!”
God bless!
Fr. Reynold