杏MAP导航

By Benedict Mayaki, SJ

Continuing his catechesis on the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians during the General Audience on Wednesday, 杏MAP导航 Francis noted the apostle鈥檚 insistence to Christians not to forget the novelty of God鈥檚 revelation that had been proclaimed to them.

The 杏MAP导航 reflected on St. Paul鈥檚 emphasis on faith in Jesus which has allowed us to truly become children of God and His heirs. Therefore, Christians are to remember with gratitude the moment we became such - the moment of our baptism - 鈥渟o as to live the great gift we have received with greater awareness.鈥�

Faith makes us God鈥檚 children 鈥渋n Christ鈥�

Once 鈥渇aith has come鈥� in Jesus Christ, the 杏MAP导航 noted, 鈥渁 radically new condition was created that leads to divine sonship.鈥�

It is not a sonship involving all men and women insofar as they are sons and daughters of the same Creator; rather, faith allows us to be children of God 鈥渋n Christ.鈥�

Being Children of God 鈥渋n Christ鈥� thus, makes a difference, because through Jesus鈥� incarnation he became our brother, and by His death and resurrection, He has reconciled us to the Father.

So, 鈥渁nyone who accepts Christ in faith, has 鈥減ut on鈥� Christ and His filial dignity through baptism.鈥�

Baptism transforms us

杏MAP导航 Francis further explained that for St. Paul, who made reference to baptism several times in his letters, 鈥渢o be baptized was the same as taking part effectively and truly in the mystery of Jesus.鈥�

In the Letter to the Romans, for example, Paul stated that in baptism we have died with Christ and have been buried with Him, so as to live with Him (Rom 6: 3-14)

Baptism, therefore, is not merely an 鈥渆xternal rite.鈥� Rather, those who receive it 鈥渁re transformed deep within鈥� and 鈥減ossess new life鈥� which allows them to turn to God and call Him with the name of 鈥淎bba, Father.鈥�

The Holy Father, in this regard, encouraged Christians to find out their date of baptism and to celebrate it.

Baptism goes beyond differences

Speaking further, the 杏MAP导航 noted St. Paul鈥檚 audacious confirmation that the identity received with baptism is so new that it prevails over the differences that exist on the ethnic-religious level, beyond differences of Jew or Greek, slave or free, male or female (Gal 3:28).

鈥淔or Paul to write to the Galatians that in Christ, there is neither Jew nor Greek was equivalent to an authentic subversion in the ethnic-religious sphere,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 explained, because by the fact of belonging to a chosen people, the Jew was privileged over the pagan.

Similarly, taking out the distinction between the 鈥渇ree鈥� and 鈥渟laves鈥� introduced a shocking perspective, as by law, 鈥渇ree citizens enjoyed all rights, while not even the human dignity of slaves was recognized.鈥� Likewise, equality in Christ, which overcomes the social differences between the two sexes, 鈥渨as revolutionary at the time鈥� and 鈥渘eeds to be reaffirmed even today.鈥�

In this way, St. Paul confirms the profound unity between all the baptized because every one of them is 鈥渁 new creature in Christ.鈥� Thus, every distinction is secondary to the dignity of being children of God who 鈥渃reates a real and substantial equality.鈥�

Called to live as children of God

The Holy Father then highlighted that we are called  in a more positive way to live a new life that roots its foundational expression in being children of God, discovering the beauty of being 鈥渂rothers and sisters among ourselves, because we have been united in Christ.鈥�

鈥淭he differences and contrasts that separation creates should not exist among believers in Christ,鈥� the 杏MAP导航 said. 鈥淩ather, our vocation is that of making concrete and evident the call to unity of the entire human race.鈥�

In this manner, everything that exacerbates differences and causes discrimination no longer has any meaning, thanks to the salvation effected in Christ.

鈥淲hat is important is that faith that operates according to the path of unity indicated by the Holy Spirit,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis concluded, adding that 鈥渙ur responsibility is that of journeying decisively on along this path.鈥�

Greetings for Ethiopian New Year

At the conclusion of the General Audience, 杏MAP导航 Francis had a special word of greeting for the people of Ethiopia, who will celebrate the beginning of the New Year 鈥� according to the Ethiopian calendar 鈥� on September 11.

鈥淚 extend my heartfelt and affectionate greeting to the Ethiopian people,鈥� he said, 鈥渁nd especially to those who are suffering due to the ongoing conflict and the grave humanitarian situation it has cause.鈥�

He added his hopes that the New Year 鈥渕ight be a time of fraternity and solidarity, in which we listen to the common desire for peace.鈥�