Faith of Mary for all

Paul addresses the domination of life by sin in the text today from the Roman Catholic Lectionary. The letter to the Galatians is a response to the criticism Paul has been receiving from Jewish Christian missionaries for his apparent neglect for the requirements of the Law in the acceptance of Gentiles as followers of Jesus. The ability of the Law to point out our sin and condemn us for it has been a kind of discipline which attempts to enforce good behaviour among believers. Justification before God through Jesus is unconditional and not based on our status according to Law. Trust in Jesus love for all is the faith which justifies people. This faith, as the psalmist proclaims, is the heritage of the children of Abraham and Jacob. It is admission to the Promise. Friar Jude Winkler comments that Paul did not mean that the distinctions between Gentile and Jew, slave and free, male and female would disappear. Rather these distinctions make no difference in the acceptance of believers to Baptism in Christ. The Gospel of Luke presents the true nature of the blessedness of Mary. As the ‘perfect disciple’ she heard the Word of God and made it part of her very being. The faith and trust of Mary is the justification which we all are called to embrace where Jesus is present in our being. Friar Jude has pointed out in the past that the Church was Marian before it was Petrine or Pauline. Faith is before authority and life in the Spirit.