杏MAP导航

By Christopher Wells

Saint Paul reminds the Galatians 鈥� and us 鈥� that the centre of salvation and faith is the death and resurrection of the Lord, 杏MAP导航 Francis said at Wednesday鈥檚 .

The 杏MAP导航 warned that there are many people today 鈥渨ho still seek religious security rather than the living and true God, focusing on rituals and precepts instead of embracing God鈥檚 love with their whole being.鈥�

Return to what is essential

So, he said, St Paul asks the Galatians 鈥渢o return to what is essential, to the God who gives us life in Christ crucified.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis encourages us to 鈥減lace ourselves in front of Christ crucified,鈥� including in Adoration of the Eucharist, when we feel we are losing the thread in our spiritual life.

This leads to a further step, he continued: When we meet Christ crucified, Jesus changes our hearts, which leads us to understand that 鈥渢he Gospel is meant for everyone, not just for a privileged few.鈥� Thus, the 杏MAP导航 said, 鈥渢he life of the community is regenerated鈥� and through the Spirit, our lives as Christians are renewed, and we are able to continue 鈥渢o engage in our spiritual battle.鈥�

Works of the flesh v. fruit of the Spirit

Here Saint Paul presents a dichotomy between the 鈥渨orks of the flesh鈥� and the 鈥渇ruit of the Spirit.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis explained that the works of the flesh are 鈥渂ehaviours that are contrary to the Spirit of God. St Paul does not intend to say that the flesh is evil in itself, but uses the term to indicate the condition of being turned in on oneself, 鈥渃losing the door to the spirit鈥� and reminding us that the things of the world grow old and pass away, 鈥渨hile the Spirit gives life.鈥�

Christians are called to live out our baptismal calling, which leads to the fruits of the Spirit: 鈥渓ove, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis invited Christians to read Saint Paul and reflect on our own behaviour to see if we are bearing those fruits.

A challenge for our communities

鈥淭he Apostle鈥檚 teaching poses quite a challenge for our communities, too,鈥� 杏MAP导航 Francis said. He explained, 鈥渢he beauty of faith in Jesus Christ cannot be grasped on the basis of so many commandments or of a moral vision developed in many layers which can make us forget the original fruitfulness of love nourished by prayer from which peace and joyful witness flow.鈥�

Nor, he said, can 鈥渢he life of the Spirit 鈥� be suffocated by a bureaucracy that prevents access to the grace of the Spirit, the initiator of conversion of the heart.鈥�

Proclaiming Christ crucified

Therefore, 杏MAP导航 Francis said in conclusion, 鈥渨e have the huge responsibility of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen, enlivened by the breath of the Spirit of love. For it is this Love alone that possesses the power to attract and change the human heart.鈥�