THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (Gal 3:11)

⏰Friday of the Twenty-Seventh Week of Ordinary Time 2 (07 October 2016 – Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary)

????Gal 3:7-14; Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6 (R.v.5b); Luke 11:15-26

????THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (Gal 3:11)

May the peace of Christ be with you.????????

What is the point which St. Paul tried to drive home in Gal 3:7-14? Was he really condemning the law? No! We must try not to misinterpret Paul as doing that. Paul was a Jew and a Pharisee at that. He had respect for Moses, and Moses was the one who received the Law from God.????

So St Paul must be understood as elevating an understanding of the spirit of the law against a myopic embrace of the letters of the law.????

Hence, St Paul would tell us, modern Christians, that mere attendance at the Church and the fulfilment of all the duties and obligations that religion imposes on us is not what will save us. Our salvation comes from a personal encounter with Jesus.????

It is from an encounter with Jesus that we gain breakthrough and liberation. Jesus is always ready and willing to deliver us, but are we willing to put our faith totally in him?????

Mary, Mother of Jesus is an epitome of such faith. Even when she did not understand the message of the angel (cf. Luke 1:29, 34), she was able to say with faith, “I am the handmaid of the Lord, let it be done to me as you have said” (Luke 1:38).????

That faith was also evident at the wedding at Cana when she told the servants, “Do whatever he tells you” (John 2:5) and through that, she was able to “force” Jesus to perform a miracle even when his time was not ripe (John 2:4).????

If you believe, ask Mary to teach you how to be present to God and tap his blessings.????????

As we work hard to follow Jesus faithfully, may he deliver us from the grip of our enemies and those who oppress us. May victory be our songs this day and beyond. In the end, may your faith in him testify in your favour before the judgement seat of the Most High. Amen.????????

Have a grace-filled and prosperous day. It is well with you.????????