O stupid Galatians!
Who has bewitched you,
before whose eyes Jesus Christ was publicly portrayed as crucified?
I want to learn only this from you:
did you receive the Spirit from works of the law,
or from faith in what you heard?
Are you so stupid?
Saint Paul remains lovable and his writings readable for his flagrant humanity. He is one of us and he speaks our language especially when he's upset. As he was when he heard that many disciples in his Galatian church had accepted a corrupt form of "Christian Judaism." (He would be no less disturbed to find it's still around two thousand years later.)
The Apostle knew from hard experience and personal disappointment that they had accepted a cheap grace that could not deliver on its promise of freedom. Many of the gentile men in the church had accepted circumcision from the "judaizers." And they supposed that painful procedure -- like basic training in the military or the entrance rites of a college fraternity -- gave them standing in God's presence. They completely missed the stripping of the entire body, the renunciation of self, of their baptism. They had effectively returned to Egypt and all the assurances of slavery.
The freedom which Paul preaches is not easily described. It is as mysterious as the vision he alludes to in this passage. He reminds the Galatians they had seen with their own eyes Jesus Christ crucified. Had he conjured up a visual display, a holographic image before the stunned audience? Had they seen a crucified man like the seraph that appeared to Saint Francis, or the dancing sun at Fatima?
But even if they had seen some kind of vision that did not cause their conversion. Some people suppose they would believe in Jesus had they actually seen with their own eyes his rising from the tomb, or a similar astounding miracle. They might say, "I would have no choice but to believe after witnessing such proof of heavenly mysteries." But faith is always a choice, and even some who saw the Risen Lord still entertained doubts.
The opposite of faith is not doubt, but betrayal; and Saint Paul saw betrayal among his Galatian disciples. If their sin was borne of gullibility and foolishness, it was no less stupid -- to use his word. Reprehensible and fatal to the well being of their souls, we could add. True, as Christians they were spiritual sheep, but acting like stupid sheep. Disciples of Jesus must have, with their bovine innocence, the wisdom of serpents.
We are saved by faith provided we believe the truth; but there is no salvation for those who believe falsehood. We should have learned that from Covid-19 and the former president.
When Saint Matthew heard the Lord's invitation to walk the path of freedom, the Spirit of God moved in his heart and he obeyed immediately. Some foolish Galatians had begun in the same Spirit but had chosen an easier path, thus earning the sobriquet of stupid.
To avoid their foolishness, we study their mistake and Saint Paul's rebuke, and like Mary Magdalene on that first Easter Sunday, turn and turn again to the Lord.
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I love to write. This blog helps me to meditate on the Word of God, and I hope to make some contribution to our contemplations of God's Mighty Works.
Ordinarily, I write these reflections two or three weeks in advance of their publication. I do not intend to comment on current events.
I understand many people prefer gender-neutral references to "God." I don't disagree with them but find that language impersonal, unappealing and tasteless. When I refer to "God" I think of the One whom Jesus called "Abba" and "Father", and I would not attempt to improve on Jesus' language.
You're welcome to add a thought or raise a question.