Paul appealed to Caesar because he was a Roman citizen and wanted a fair trial, refusing to be handed over to the Jews who planned to ambush and kill him.
The works of the flesh include immorality, impurity, licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, anger, selfishness, dissension, party spirit, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and similar behaviors.
The fruits of the Spirit are love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Paul warned the Galatians because they had been freed from slavery to the law and were now adopted as sons of God. Returning to their old ways would mean reverting to weak and beggarly elemental spirits.
Paul used the allegory of Hagar and Sarah, where Hagar represents slavery and the old covenant, while Sarah represents freedom and the new covenant through Christ.
Paul emphasizes that whatever a person sows, they will also reap. If they sow to the flesh, they will reap corruption, but if they sow to the Spirit, they will reap eternal life.
Paul describes the freedom in Christ as being set free from the yoke of slavery, allowing believers to stand fast and not submit to a life of bondage again.
Paul refers to the marks of Jesus as the physical scars or wounds he bore, possibly hinting at the stigmata, which symbolize his suffering and identification with Christ's sacrifice.
Fr. Mike reminds us of the context of Galatians and reiterates Paul’s admonition not to revert to our previous ways of life now that we have been freed from the yoke of slavery. He also discusses the works of the flesh which separate us from Christ and the fruits of the spirit which result from a life lived in God, reminding us that we will reap what we sow in due season. Today’s readings are Acts 25, Galatians 4-6, and Proverbs 29:15-17.
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