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Morning Devotion for the Season after Pentecost
June 5, 2024
The Invitatory
The earth is the Lord’s for he made it: O come, let us adore him.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son: and to the Holy Ghost;
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Reading: Galatians 2:11-21
But when Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood self-condemned; for until certain people came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But after they came, he drew back and kept himself separate for fear of the circumcision faction. And the other Jews joined him in this hypocrisy, so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy. But when I saw that they were not acting consistently with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas before them all, ‘If you, though a Jew, live like a Gentile and not like a Jew, how can you compel the Gentiles to live like Jews?’
We ourselves are Jews by birth and not Gentile sinners; yet we know that a person is justified not by the works of the law but through faith in Jesus Christ. And we have come to believe in Christ Jesus, so that we might be justified by faith in Christ, and not by doing the works of the law, because no one will be justified by the works of the law. But if, in our effort to be justified in Christ, we ourselves have been found to be sinners, is Christ then a servant of sin? Certainly not! But if I build up again the very things that I once tore down, then I demonstrate that I am a transgressor. For through the law I died to the law, so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but it is Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not nullify the grace of God; for if justification comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
Meditation: Jo Ann B. Jones
One wonders about the impact of a new religion, Christianity, had on the many peoples to whom Paul felt called to evangelize. These societies already were home to a variety of religious practices and allegiances. How does one go about introducing a new faith, let alone, guiding people into the practice thereof? It must be quite an uphill battle - announcing the reality of (to others) the existence of a (new) God and God’s son, Jesus Christ. No wonder that questions and doubts abound! And yet, as we read this passage from Paul’s letter to the Galatians, it seems understandable that this question might arise: “Do Gentiles have to become Jews to be Christians?” Paul’s resounding answer was “Heck, no!” I suppose that might bring comfort or relief to some, but I’m not sure that it makes clear what the next steps might be. Of course, that is at the heart of faith, that one must proceed relying on, in this case, Jesus Christ.
One must forge ahead, trusting that the way will be shown, and, hopefully eager to have that faith grow and grow. With any luck (and, perhaps, wisdom gained through experience), one will learn from mistakes as one moves forward in relationship with God, a right relationship that God has trued. It is heartening both to the new person to faith, and those of us still pursuing this path that God is “not interested in righteous individuals,” but God wants “to create righteousness and justice for people, communities, and for nations. Our developing faith rests upon God’s gracious givenness to us. In that way we are continually blessed.
But for those whom Paul encounters in Galatia in this first century there are competing concerns and traditions that he must address in order to win over potential converts. His task is to clarify the relationship between the law, faith, justification, and the cross. This is not easily done, of course. The challenge to Paul is to work it out as he is in Galatia for the first time. Talk about breaking new ground!
Yet, Paul immediately takes on justification. One should not understand it as a means by which one attempts to turn back the clock; rather, it is a full, honest reckoning of our sin as our human nature. The gift to us is the opening in our relationship with God, a relationship with God that rests upon his forgiveness of our sins. God’s great gift is that his righteousness is for all people and nations.
Tracing the history of salvation through the patriarchs and the establishment of the Law, Paul moves to teach the Galatians that a new period of salvation history has been established in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. It is through Christ that this new relationship with God has been established with all people. It is Christ’s faithfulness that has opened a whole new age for humankind.
The Lord’s Prayer
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy Name.
Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who trespass against us.
And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For thine is the Kingdom, the power and the glory,
for ever and ever. Amen.
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