杏MAP导航

By Devin Watkins

杏MAP导航 Francis held the Wednesday General Audience in the San Damaso Courtyard, and continued his catechesis on the letters of St. Paul.

The 杏MAP导航 focused his reflections on the Letter to the Galatians and on Paul鈥檚 self-identification as a true apostle.

He noted that Paul lays out his intent clearly, which is to 鈥渞eiterate the novelty of the Gospel, which the Galatians have received through his preaching, to build the true identity on which to base their existence.鈥�

Getting to the heart of the problem

The 杏MAP导航 said St. Paul puts aside the empty arguments of his detractors and 鈥渇lies high鈥� by showing the path to overcome conflicts in the community.

Only near the end of his letter, noted the 杏MAP导航, does Paul reveal that the core of his argumentation is the question of whether or not circumcision is required for all Christians.

鈥淧aul chooses to go deeper, because what is at stake is the truth of the Gospel and the freedom of Christians, which is an integral part of it.鈥�

He goes to the heart of the problem that has arisen in the Galatian community, rather than seeking a quick and easy solution.

Boasting of God鈥檚 mercy

杏MAP导航 Francis went on to recall Paul鈥檚 assertion that he was called to be an apostle by God, and not by his own merit.

Paul even boasted that he had progressed far beyond others in Judaism, highlighting that he had been a defender of his 鈥渁ncestral traditions鈥� and ferociously persecuted the Church.

The 杏MAP导航 said St. Paul boasts of his previous way of life only to underline the greatness of the mercy of God.

鈥淧aul thus highlights the truth of his vocation through the striking contrast that had been created in his life: from being a persecutor of Christians for not observing the traditions and the law, he was called to become an apostle to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ.鈥�

Using the weak and sinful

Despite Paul鈥檚 checkered past, God chose to reveal His Risen Son to him, so that he might preach the Gospel to the Gentiles.

鈥淗ow inscrutable are the ways of the Lord!鈥� said the 杏MAP导航. 鈥淲e experience this every day, but especially if we think back to the times when the Lord called us.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis urged everyone never to forget the moment when Jesus entered our lives, keeping 鈥渇ixed in our hearts and minds that encounter with grace, when God changed our existence.鈥�

And he marveled at how often God makes use of sinners and the weak to manifest His will.

鈥淎nd yet, none of this happens by chance, because everything has been prepared in God's plan. He weaves our history and, if we correspond with trust to His plan of salvation, we realize it.鈥�

God鈥檚 grace makes us servants of the Gospel

Finally, 杏MAP导航 Francis recalled that when God calls He also instills us with a mission, which we must prepare for diligently.

鈥淟et us allow ourselves to be led by this awareness: the primacy of grace transforms existence and makes it worthy of being placed at the service of the Gospel.鈥�