The texts from the Roman Catholic Lectionary today remind us that our Faith is supported by our experience of hearing and acting on the Word.
In the reading from the Letter to the Galatians, Paul proclaims what Faith Has Brought Us.
* [3:23–29] Paul adds a further argument in support of righteousness or justification by faith and through God’s promise rather than by works of the law (Gal 2:16; 3:22): as children of God, baptized into Christ, the Galatians are all Abraham’s descendant and heirs of the promise to Abraham (Gal 3:8, 14, 16–18, 29). The teaching in Gal 3:23–25, that since faith (Christianity) has come, we are no longer under the law, could be taken with the previous paragraph on the role of the Mosaic law, but it also fits here as a contrast between the situation before faith (Gal 3:23) and the results after faith has come (Gal 3:25–29).
* [3:24–25] Disciplinarian: the Greek paidagÅgos referred to a slave who escorted a child to school but did not teach or tutor; hence, a guardian or monitor. Applying this to the law fits the role of the law described in Gal 3:19–25.
* [3:26] Children of God: literally “sons,” in contrast to the young child under the disciplinarian in Gal 3:24–25. The term includes males and females (Gal 3:28).
* [3:27–28] Likely a formula used at baptism that expresses racial, social-economic, and sexual equality in Christ (cf. Col 3:11).
* [3:27] Clothed yourselves with Christ: literally, “have put on Christ”; cf. Rom 13:14; Eph 4:24; Col 3:10. Baptismal imagery, traceable to the Old Testament (Jb 29:14; Is 59:17) but also found in pagan mystery cults. (Galatians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB, n.d.)
Psalm 105 praises God’s Faithfulness to Israel.
* [Psalm 105] A hymn to God who promised the land of Canaan to the holy people, cf. Ps 78; 106; 136. Israel is invited to praise and seek the presence of God (Ps 105:1–6), who is faithful to the promise of land to the ancestors (Ps 105:7–11). In every phase of the national story—the ancestors in the land of Canaan (Ps 105:12–15), Joseph in Egypt (Ps 105:16–22), Israel in Egypt (Ps 105:23–38), Israel in the desert on the way to Canaan (Ps 105:39–45)—God remained faithful, reiterating the promise of the land to successive servants. (Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB, n.d.)
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus defines True Blessedness.
* [11:27–28] The beatitude in Lk 11:28 should not be interpreted as a rebuke of the mother of Jesus; see note on Lk 8:21. Rather, it emphasizes (like Lk 2:35) that attentiveness to God’s word is more important than biological relationship to Jesus. (Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB, n.d.)
Rashmi Fernando, S.J. comments that the readings of today invite us to examine our own lives and ask whether we are living out our mission, the Word of God, the Logos, or the personified love of God, that our faith in Jesus Christ has revealed.
In our attempt to truly listen to and keep God’s word, are we willing to transcend our differences, look beyond our personal relationships and comfort zones, breaking down the barriers that divide us? Are we ready to elevate our perspective keeping God's mission at the forefront of our lives while maintaining love and respect for those around us? (Fernando, n.d.)
Don Schwager quotes “Blessings for hearing and keeping the Word,” by Augustine of Hippo, 354-430 A.D.
"Mary was more blessed in accepting the faith of Christ than in conceiving the flesh of Christ. To someone who said, 'Blessed is the womb that bore you,' he replied, 'Rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.' Finally, for his brothers, his relatives according to the flesh who did not believe in him, of what advantage was that relationship? Even her maternal relationship would have done Mary no good unless she had borne Christ more happily in her heart than in her flesh." (excerpt from HOLY VIRGINITY 3.1) (Schwager, n.d.)
The Word Among Us Meditation on Galatians 3:22-29 comments that Paul was quick to clarify: it was through the gift of faith that they were saved, not through adherence to the Law. The Law and its negative disciplines—the “thou shalt nots”—were meant to keep God’s people safe until Jesus came and sent his Spirit into their hearts. And now, because that same Spirit dwells in us, we can fulfill the law as we learn to live by the Spirit and not by our fallen nature.
So practice listening to the Spirit. Tell him you want to learn how to follow his guidance. Ask him to help you fulfill the law of love just as Jesus did. That’s the path to freedom and peace.
“Holy Spirit, help me to live in love.” (Meditation on Galatians 3:22-29, n.d.)
Friar Jude Winkler comments that Paul declares that the Law tells us when we are guilty and faith makes us children of God at peace with God. Distinctions between people are no longer important in our relationship with God. Friar Jude reminds us that Mary heard the Word of God and embraced it.
Barbara Holmes opens her book Joy Unspeakable by honoring God’s joyful presence in difficult times.
Joy Unspeakable
is not silent,
it moans, hums, and bends
to the rhythm of a dancing universe.
It is a fractal of transcendent hope,
a hologram of God’s heart,
a black hole of unknowing.For our free African ancestors,
joy unspeakable is drum talk
that invites the spirits
to dance with us,
and tell tall tales by the fire.For the desert Mothers and Fathers,
joy unspeakable is respite
from the maddening crowds,
and freedom from
“church” as usual.For enslaved Africans during the
Middle Passage,
joy unspeakable is the surprise
of living one more day,
and the freeing embrace of death
chosen and imposed.For Africans in bondage
in the Americas,
joy unspeakable is that moment of
mystical encounter
when God tiptoes into the hush arbor,
testifies about Divine suffering,
and whispers in our ears,
“Don’t forget,
I taught you how to fly
on a wing and a prayer,
when you’re ready
let’s go!”…For the tap dancing, boogie woogie,
rap/rock/blues griots
who also hear God,
joy unspeakable is
that space/time/joy continuum thing
that dares us to play and pray
in the interstices of life,
it is the belief that the phrase
“the art of living”
means exactly what it says.Joy Unspeakable
is
both FIRE AND CLOUD,
the unlikely merger of
trance and high tech lives
ecstatic songs and a jazz repertoire
Joy unspeakable is
a symphony of incongruities
of faces aglow and hearts
on fire
and the wonder of surviving together. (Holmes, n.d.)
We implore the Spirit to reveal the joy of living in the Word particularly when we are experiencing difficult times.
References
Fernando, R. (n.d.). Daily Reflection Of Creighton University's Online Ministries. OnlineMinistries. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://onlineministries.creighton.edu/CollaborativeMinistry/101224.html
Galatians, CHAPTER 3 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/galatians/3?
Holmes, B. (n.d.). Dancing with Divine Fire: Weekly Summary. Richard Rohr. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://cac.org/daily-meditations/dancing-with-divine-fire-weekly-summary/
Luke, CHAPTER 11 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/luke/11?
Meditation on Galatians 3:22-29. (n.d.). The Word Among Us: Homepage. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://wau.org/meditations/2024/10/12/1103307/
Psalms, PSALM 105 | USCCB. (n.d.). Daily Readings. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://bible.usccb.org/bible/psalms/105?2
Schwager, D. (n.d.). Hear the Word of God and Keep It. Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations – Daily Scripture Readings and Meditations. Retrieved October 12, 2024, from https://www.dailyscripture.net/daily-meditation/?ds_year=2024&date=oct12
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