杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

鈥淲hen it comes to the Gospel and to the mission to evangelize, Paul is enthusiastic,鈥� said 杏MAP导航 Francis at . 鈥淓verything in him is dedicated to this proclamation, and has no interest other than the Gospel.鈥�

Headed down a wrong path

The Holy Father is continuing his catechesis on St Paul鈥檚 Letter to the Galatians.

Resuming his Audiences after the summer break, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted the sadness and disappointment Paul felt at seeing the Galatians taking a 鈥渨rong path, which would lead them to a point of no return.鈥�

For Paul, he said, the Gospel came down to four points: Christ died for our sins鈥� was buried鈥� rose from the dead鈥� and appeared to the disciple. 鈥淭his Gospel is the fulfilment of the promises and the salvation offered to all men.鈥�

But the Galatians were in danger of turning away from the Gospel, following new preachers who threatened to 鈥渄istort the true Gospel鈥� by 鈥減reventing them from attaining the freedom gained by coming to faith.鈥� These preachers of novelty wanted to impose on them the obligation to follow the Mosaic law.

No other Gospel

For St Paul, however, there can be no other Gospel than that which he received from Christ, the 杏MAP导航 said. So 鈥渨e can understand why Paul uses very harsh terms,鈥� insisting on the need to keep far from the community that which threatens it foundations.

Although the preachers of novelty seemed to be animated by good intentions, 鈥渟eem to be inspired by fidelity to the tradition received from the fathers,鈥� they did not hesitate to cast suspicions even on St Paul, who they 鈥渃onsidered unorthodox with regard to tradition.鈥�

A salutary warning

Paul, however, knows that the Gospel he preached 鈥渋s the only authentic one, because it is that of Jesus Christ." He 鈥渟ees the great risk facing the young Christians.鈥�

杏MAP导航 Francis made it clear that, 鈥渋n this labyrinth of good intentions, it is necessary to extricate oneself in order to grasp the supreme truth that is most consistent with the Person and preaching of Jesus and His revelation of the Father鈥檚 love.鈥�

St Paul鈥檚 鈥渃lear and decisive word,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渨as salutary for the Galatians, and is salutary for us, too.鈥�