The Second Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 5C), June 10, 2007
BCP: 1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 30 or 30:1-6, 12-13; Gal. 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17
RCL: 1 Kings 17:8-16, (17-24) or 1 Kings 17:17-24; Psalm 146 or Psalm 30; Gal. 1:11-24; Luke 7:11-17
In this week’s lection from Paul’s Letter to the Galatians, the apostle confronts the church on two fronts regarding his own credibility, especially in light of his own past. In the first case, Paul articulates his defense of his becoming a devout follower of Jesus despite the harm inflicted on Christians in his previous life. Having been a zealot against Jesus’ followers, he has become an enthusiast for the cause of Christ.
Likewise, Jesus did not affiliate with the Zealots. The closest he came was picking from their group one of his closest disciples, Simon Peter, who was quick to use the sword and fight for the cause, but was restrained and retrained, and the Book of Acts indicates that he was finally won over, as was Paul on the road to Damascus. Deep down Paul wants the Galatians to know that his intensity is really about being gracefully enthusiastic about his new calling rather than a coercive Zealot. A noted psychologist once wrote that fanaticism is the brother of doubt. He could well have added that enthusiasm is the brother of faith.
The second point that Paul raises to the Galatian church centers on the lingering question whether a gentile must become a Jew before becoming a Christian. Certain Judaizing teachers had infiltrated the churches of Galatia which Paul had previously founded. In writing to the churches, Paul, after making clear his apostolic authority, now desires to make clear his validity as a teacher independent from the Judaizers who were stirring things up.
Paul makes it clear he is not a disciple of the Big Three of the Judea apostles: Peter, James and John. He didn’t train under their leadership or work alongside them in churches.
Unfortunately, the Church still experiences “turf wars,” reflecting all too clearly the racial or cultural tensions of the world. As Paul’s words speak to us and he becomes the same guide for us as he was for the Galatians, we discover that the first rule seems to be to tell the “story” clearly; prize both the independence that grows out of a fresh vision of Jesus, and the convergence between different preachings of the gospel. But ultimately we must keep our eyes on the main issue, which, as Paul experienced, must always be God’s glory.
Look It Up
Peter and Paul each experienced their own unique restoration and renewal of faith; Peter’s was personal with Jesus — face-to-face (John 21:15-17), while Paul’s was filled with mystique and the dramatic (Acts 9:1-19).
Think About It
If we were called to make a defense of our faith to a skeptical audience in one or two sentences, what would we say?
Next Sunday
The Third Sunday After Pentecost (Proper 6C), June 17, 2007
BCP: 2 Sam. 11:26-12:10, 13-15; Psalm 32 or 32:1-8; Gal. 2:11-21; Luke 7:36-50
RCL: 1 Kings 21:1-10, (11-14), 15-21a or 2 Sam. 11:26-12:10, 13-15; Psalm 5:1-8 or Psalm 32; Gal. 2:15-21; Luke 7:36-8:3
