The Word of the Day is “fulfill”’ as in to “fulfill desire.” In our reading of Galatians 5:11-21, St. Paul urges his flock to “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (OSB Galatians 5:16).  Today we consider Paul’s warning not to use our freedom in Christ as a pretext for indulging in our sinful desires. Paul qualifies that Christian liberty does not mean license. His congregations in Galatia are being torn apart by bitter and hateful controversy. But it is not merely a theological argument over circumcision. Paul sees that the deeper problem is a misunderstanding of his teaching of believers’ liberty in Christ. A False Choice It seems that the Galatians are…
The word of the day is “walk.” Today St. Paul teaches that there is a difference between having life in the Spirit and living in the Spirit. Thus, in our reading of Galatians 5:22-6:22, St. Paul writes, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (vs. 25). The Holy Mystery of Baptism grants the baptized the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” and  confers the power, illumination, and inspiration of the Spirit (Orthodox Church in America, “Baptism Service,” 2012). From then on, those who are washed and renewed in the baptismal font, indeed, “live in the Spirit” (vs. 25).  Having died to the “old life” of sin and death, they now wear the white baptismal…
The word of the day is “walk.” Today St. Paul teaches that there is a difference between having life in the Spirit and living in the Spirit.  Thus, in our reading of Galatians 5:22-6:22, St. Paul writes, “If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit (vs. 25). The Holy Mystery of Baptism grants the baptized the “seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit” and confers the power, illumination, and inspiration of the Spirit (Orthodox Church in America, “Baptism Service,” 2012).  From then on, those who are washed and renewed in the baptismal font, indeed, “live in the Spirit” (vs. 25).  Having died to the “old life” of sin and death, they now wear the white baptismal…
The Word of the Day is “fulfill”’ as in to “fulfill desire.” In our reading of Galatians 5:11-21, St. Paul urges his flock to “Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh” (OSB Galatians 5:16).  Today we consider Paul’s warning not to use our freedom in Christ as a pretext for indulging in our sinful desires. Paul qualifies that Christian liberty does not mean license. His congregations in Galatia are being torn apart by bitter and hateful controversy. But it is not merely a theological argument over circumcision. Paul sees that the deeper problem is a misunderstanding of his teaching of believers’ liberty in Christ. A False Choice It seems that the Galatians are…