Tuesday, May 4, 2021
Our Experience of Christ – Part I
Who has bewitched you?
We might ask ourselves this question a thousand times during the day and the answer is always the same. It is our doubt, our lack of faith that clouds our vision. Paul reminds us that our justification, or our salvation, comes “not through the law or works of the law but by faith in Christ and in his death . . . The gift of God’s spirit to the Galatians came from the Gospel received in faith, not from doing what the law enjoins”. (Senior 297) Paul appeals to our experience of Christ both in our daily lives and as we meet him in scripture, and he reminds us that while we might come close to Christ by observing the law, it is through faith that we are blessed and redeemed. This was promised to Abraham and now – Paul reminds us – it is promised to the gentiles.
These new Christians in Galatia to whom Paul writes were former pagans and they were being encouraged by other missionaries to observe all Jewish law along with Christ’s law of love. This even included circumcision. (Senior 293) Having descended from the Celts who had invaded western and central Asia Minor three hundred years prior, the Galatians had little experience in discerning and living a relationship with one true creator who loves his creatures so much that he is willing to die for them. We might find ourselves to be much like these Galatians.
Senior, Donald, ed. THE CATHOLIC STUDY BIBLE. New York, Oxford University Press, 1990.293,297. Print.
First written on April 23, 2010 and posted today as a Favorite.
Image from: http://btscelebs.com/2013/03/21/the-bible-mission-real-verse-jesus-christ-on-palm-sunday/
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