Dead to the Law But Alive to God (Mon. Sept. 30)

The Word of the Day is “Law.”  We take it for granted that the Mosaic Law and its regulations and restrictions do not apply to us. But today, we reflect on why that Law no longer holds us captive. We learn that each of us is personally liberated from the bondage to the Law and its judgment and given the grace of the Holy Spirit through Holy Baptism. Today, we learn to think sacramentally about our salvation. We realize that the water and oil of the Holy Mystery of Baptism and Chrismation are agents of grace by which we die to sin and rise to the freedom of the New Life of Christ in the Spirit.

In today’s reading of Galatians 2:11-16, St. Paul reports on an incident that provoked him to develop his theology of the cross. The apostle states that he confronted the apostle Peter for inconsistent conduct. Peter ate with the Gentiles in Antioch until some Jewish Christians from Jerusalem objected. Fearing their disapproval, the foremost disciple of Christ backed off, and even Paul’s co-worked Barnabas did the same.

Paul Charged that Peter was Contradictory and Hypocritical

Paul did not hold back but charged that Peter’s conduct was both contradictory and hypocritical. From a historical point of view, the more significant inconsistency was that, at this time, there were two parallel communions of Christians. One was the fellowship of the circumcised who kept the Law of Moses. They even observed the dietary and social rules against eating with Gentiles. The other circle was the group of churches that Paul and others had started in the Roman Empire. This grouping had a mixture of Jewish Christians and Gentiles. And by the decision of the Jerusalem Council, these Gentiles were not circumcised nor bound to keep the Mosaic Law.

The issue that Paul discerned was whether the cross was the center of the Gospel. He stated, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died in vain (Galatians 2:21). One cannot have it both ways, as Paul teaches in Romans.  One either depends on one’s own righteousness or one depends on the righteousness of Christ. For the former, one must try one’s best to keep the Law—and will fail.  For the latter, “Christ is the end of the Law for righteousness to everyone who believes” (Romans 10:3).

What the Law Could Not Do, God Did

Paul explains, “For what the Law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh” (Romans 8:3a). Thus God “condemned sin in the flesh” (Romans 8:3b). Again, he writes that by the cross, God “… made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Cor. 5:21).

For Reflection

It takes a sacramental understanding to grasp the relationship of the cross, grace, “works of the Law,” and the believer. Paul writes, “For through the Law, I died to the Law so that I might live to God. I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me” (Galatians 2:19-20).

Being “crucified with Christ” means that we have died to the Law and its condemnation. Therefore, they do not affect us. It cannot make us righteous before God. And it can no longer condemn us.

The Almighty Does Not Vacillate (for Friday, August 30)

The Word of the Day is “Yes.” When our faith is challenged, we are tempted to become unsure of the promises of God’s Word and doubtful of its preaching. Today, in 2 Corinthians 1:12-20, Paul defends himself from the charge that he vacillates. He says, “Yes” sometimes, “No” other times, and “Yes and No” most times (vs. 18). Today, we will find that Paul admits he had changed his plans about visiting Corinth. He may have vacillated, but he insists that his motives, methods, and messages are constant. 

By his constancy, Paul seeks to reflect the faithfulness of God, whose “steadfast love endures forever” (Psalm 118) and whose Word is everlasting (Psalm 119:89; Matthew 24:35). We learn from our reading that we can rely on the unchanging nature of God’s Word and His good will for us, providing us with a sense of security in His steadfast Word. 

Paul is answering the criticism that he is undependable since He first planned to come to Corinth after he passed through Macedonia. But then he unexpectedly dropped everything and made his “sorrowful visit.” Then, he meant to return to Corinth. But he canceled his intentions again and wrote to the Corinthians instead. It seemed to his opponents that  Paul was hiding his true motives and intents, or he could not make up his mind (vs. 17).

PAUL’S ONLY MOTIVE IS TO PREACH THE GOSPEL

In our reading, Paul responds to his critics. In summary, he insists that his only motive is to preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. And his only intent is that his hearers accept the grace of God and live according to it. Moreover, the apostle maintains that he “conducts his affairs with simplicity and godly sincerity” (vs. 12). Furthermore, he notes that he does not preach worldly wisdom. As he said in 1 Corinthians 2, he did not come to them with impressive speech but resolved to know nothing among them “except Christ and Him crucified” (vs. 2:2). Consequently, he wrote, “My speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power” (1 Cor. 2:4).

WITH GOD THERE IS ONLY “YES”

Therefore, Paul maintained that he is not indecisive in his proclamation or way of life at all. But by openness and forthrightness, he reflects the unchanging truth of the Gospel. You see, the Almighty God of steadfast love does not waver. He does not offer His promises, only to take them back again. With God, there is no “Yes and No” (vs. 18-19), but only the constant affirmation of all that He pledges. His Word is not a blunt instrument that He uses haphazardly. It is a sharp sword that cuts through all ambiguity and uncertainty to accomplish His purpose. Therefore, all who hear His Word must say “Amen” to its message and affirm its teaching.

FOR REFLECTION

Especially in times of trial, we might think that God’s Word is uncertain and His good will for us is in doubt. But then we should realize that our uncertainty is not the fault of the Almighty. Instead, it is that we have mixed thoughts and feelings. Along with the voice of Christ, we are listening to other influences. Their messages swirl around in our minds, and the siren songs of the world confuse the call of Christ. In these times of hesitation, we should return to the foundation of our faith in the promises of God.

Moreover, we should consider who makes these promises. As Chrysostom says, “Fear not, therefore; for it is not man so that thou shouldest mistrust; but it is God Who both said and fulfilleth” (NfPf1:12, vs. 20), that is, it is God who both speaks and fulfills what He says. If God fulfilled His promise of sending us a Savior and who kept His Word to send us the Holy Spirit, how can we have misgivings about His Word and will?

Note: I will be on vacation until the 9th or 10th of September.  I will not post a commentary until then. I hope that you will continue your scripture study and that it will be fruitful.  Until I resume my posts, God bless.  

Dead or Alive? (Saturday, July 20)

The Word of the Day is "reckon.” In our scripture study of Romans 6:11-17, St. Paul advises, “Reckon yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord (OSB vs. 11). What is our relationship to sin? In our daily walk with Christ, sin is likely to follow us. We may try to flee it. But it seems that the faster we run from it, the more it catches up with us (Romans 6:11-17). If we cannot escape sin, what can we do?  Today, we consider what being “dead to sin” and “alive to God” means for our struggle against temptation. We will find that the key is how we “reckon” ourselves.  WE SHOULD NOT LET SIN REIGN  In today’s reading of Romans 6:11-17, St. Paul writes, “Do not let sin reign in your mortal body” (OSB vs. 12). Paul’s warning is clear. When we allow disobedience to God to reign in our lives, it controls us. We are captive to its “lusts.” In Greek, the term “lust” refers to passionate desires, impulses, and longings (Strong’s #1939). And the word “reign” in Greek means to exert influence over or to govern (Strong’s #936). Accordingly, Paul says that we should not “let” the dictates of passion rule over us. Like a king, the lusts of sin order us to do this or that. But Paul teaches that we can choose not to obey. We do not have to listen or attend to these passions (Strong’s 5219).  How to deal with SIN  These thoughts suggest a way of dealing with the sin that “so easily ensnares us” (OSB Hebrews 12:1). How? The writer to the Hebrews urges us to “lay aside” the passions (OSB Hebrews 12:1). The word in Greek means to cast off or put away (Strong’s #659). Thus, the apostle teaches us not to pay homage to the lusts and longings of the flesh. Instead, we should put behind us everything that drags us into sin. The apostle promises that when we let go of what tempts us to sin, then we will be able to run the race set before us with endurance (OSB 12:1).  turning OUR ATTENTION FROM SIN TO GOD  Again, how do we do this? We may have the idea that our hearts contain a mixture of sin and godliness. If this is true, then no matter how hard we try to put down the evil in us, it is always coming to the surface and taking over. But Paul contradicts this idea. He teaches that there are two forces that strive to control us: the reign of sin or the domination of righteousness (Romans 6:170-18). Both cannot rule us at the same time. If one controls us, the other has no power over us. So, which will it be? According to today’s reading, the difference between slavery to sin and the freedom of righteousness hangs on the word “reckon.” This term means to account ourselves or to regard ourselves (Strong’s #3049). Accordingly, Paul teaches that we should think of ourselves as “dead to sin” and “alive to God in Christ” (OSB vs.  11).  A NEW WAY OF THINKING  Paul here is recommending a new way of thinking. To be free of the control of sin, we must think of ourselves in a different way. Freedom from sin depends on what we choose to allow our minds to dwell on. If we fix our minds on sin, it will continue to control us. The more we fight against it, the more it will demand our attention, and the stronger its temptation will become. On the other hand, if we fix our minds on the ways of God, these godly thoughts will also dominate us. And the more we concentrate our minds on Christ and His mercy, the more these medications on grace will influence our beliefs, attitudes, and behavior.  ST. PORPHYRIOS: “IGNORE EVIL”  St. Porphyrios wrote, “You won’t become saints by hounding after evil. Ignore evil. Look towards Christ, and He will save you. Instead of standing outside the door shooing the evil one away, treat him with disdain. If evil approaches from one direction, then calmly turn in the other direction. If evil assaults you, turn all your inner strength to good and to Christ. Pray Lord Jesus Christ have mercy on me” (Porphyrios 2005, 135).  FOR REFLECTION  In our human weakness, we cannot conquer sin and temptation. But in cooperation with the Holy Spirit, we can remove ourselves from their direct influence and stay out of their path. When dieting, we cannot always stop ourselves from overeating, but we can quit filling our refrigerator with calorie-laden foods and fattening snacks.  As St. Porphyrios teaches, dealing with sin and temptation is a matter of focusing our minds and channeling our thoughts with the help of the Holy Spirit (Porphyrios 2005, 135). A healthy spirit keeps the Lord and His blessings constantly in heart and mind. And a healthy soul uses the resource of the Mystery of Confession to put itself back on the way of salvation again, a path that does not attend to the power of sin but is attentive to the strength of Christ.  WORKS CITED  Porphyrios, Saint. 2005. Wounded by Love: the Life and the Wisdom of Saint Porphyrios. Crete: Denise Harvey