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Thursday, October 07, 2004 Meditation Galatians 3:1-5 Are you so foolish? (Galatians 3:3) Who among us hasn’t needed a “wake-up call” at one point or another in our lives? Even though we may know better, we still need reminders to eat healthy and exercise, for example, or to demonstrate love and affection to our family. We still need to be reminded that if we don’t, we will reap the consequences of ill health or tension in our relationships. In his Letter to the Galatians, St. Paul faced the unenviable task of giving these brothers and sisters in Christ a dramatic wake-up call. Paul had learned that the gospel he preached to them had been polluted in his absence, and the Christian converts were suffering the consequences of exchanging their freedom in Christ for bondage to the law. Although they had previously responded to the gospel in faith, they were taking steps backward by believing that observance of the Torah was necessary to complete Christ’s salvific work on their behalf. Apparently, this mostly Gentile community was even practicing the legal rite of circumcision (5:2-6)! How upset and frustrated Paul must have been! As their spiritual brother, he chose aggressive language to wake them up to the folly of their approach and to challenge them. It’s quite possible that the Galatians had good intentions in wanting to supplement their faith with the law. But Paul’s point was not that the law was bad but that it no longer held the primary place it once had. Paul twice called the Galatians “foolish,” not because they were unintelligent but because they were being undiscerning. They needed a reminder that their experience of the Spirit, as well as all the miracles they witnessed, came about through faith in Christ, not because of strict adherence to Judaic laws. Haven’t we all had times when we have needed our own “wake-up call” to bring us back to the Spirit? It can be so easy just to go through the motions of our faith, no matter how “foolish” we know such a position can be. So let the Galatians’ experience—and Paul’s words—help keep you alert! Don’t let yourself lose sight of the Spirit today. “Lord Jesus, look upon your people with mercy and kindness, especially those who are wandering away from you. Strengthen our faith and bind all believers into one strong brotherhood.” |
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