In today's first reading, Galatians 3: 22-29, St. Paul reminds us that there was a time when "Scripture confined all things under the power of sin, that through faith in Jesus Christ the promise might be given to those who believe." He goes on to explain: "Before faith came, we were held in custody under law, confined for the faith that was to be revealed....[T]he law," he says, "was our disciplinarian for Christ, that we might be justified by faith." And "now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian. For through faith [we] are all children of God in Christ Jesus." As children of God, Paul says, there "is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free persons, there is not male and female; for you are one in Christ Jesus,...heirs according to the promise."
WOW! We are no longer slaves of Satan, of sin! We are slaves of Christ Jesus, of holiness, truthfulness, integrity, humility, honor, mercy, compassion, self-sacrificing love! We are one with Christ Jesus, having put on Christ Jesus in our baptism, having been clothed with a mantle of justice, a robe of righteousness. In our baptism, we died to sin and rose with Christ! As one with Christ, there are no distinctions among us: there is neither male nor female, neither Jew nor Greek (Gentile), neither slave nor free persons. All are one in Christ Jesus, beyond labels. No one is greater than the other, more qualified than another, better than another, smarter than another, more worthy than another. We are ONE in Christ Jesus!
May each of us, Lord, become more and more aware of our unity, our oneness in You--our Redeemer, our Master, our God--and with Mary, Your Mother and ours. May we rejoice in who we are in You, through You and with You and for You! May all divisions cease!
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