Friar Jude Winkler comments on the texts in the Roman CatholicLectionary which are not specifically chosen for Thanksgiving. The message of
Paul to the region of Galatia is a repudiation of Jewish Christian missionaries
from Jerusalem who are declaring Paul to be an impostor and liar. Paul strongly
proclaims freedom from Jewish cultural practices for Gentiles who follow the
Way. Friar Jude points out that those baptized as a result of Paul’s missionary
work were becoming converts to Judaism. The followers of Jesus, Messiah, were
still meeting in synagogues at this time. The welcome for Gentiles is part of
the revelation from Jesus experienced by Paul. This unmediated contact with the
Divine is difficult in Jewish tradition. In the Gospel from Luke, Jesus
addresses the nature of living the great Commandment as he scandalizes the
audience with the parable of the Good Samaritan, the hated enemy who acts with
love and compassion to the one, who may be ritually unclean, suffering from
tragedy. The message of risking loving and being servant to others as the
preferred worship of God is a revolutionary revelation to those hearing these
words.
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