Living in the light of God's Love of inclusion has roots in the writings of Paul the Apostle in his letters to the Galatians

Father Phil Tracy: Pastor's Pondering commentary on the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Time July 6, 2025. All Saints Parish, Brunswick, Maine.

A reflection on how religious, government and cultural changes should not deter us from living in the light of God's love.

Americans just celebrated the Fourth of July. Our nation faced tremendous odds to secure our independence from Great Britain. Great leadership, serious sacrifice and suffering and the help of some allies, especially from France, allowed the colonies to become a nation. However, the victory over the English was only the beginning. They were no longer governed by the King of England, but now faced the difficult task of building the nation and safeguarding the freedom that they had won.

This is a helpful way to understand the Kingdom of God. In one cross. ✝️ We share in God's love, justice and presence, living in the light of God's love.💛💙💗🌈☀️

In another sense, the fullness of God's Kingdom lies in the future. 

Second Reading from Paul to the Galatians 6:14-18

May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! 

As for those who will follow this rule—peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.

From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.

We are still burdened by sin and life. We are more attracted by the temptations of the present than guided by the promise of grace and blessing in the future.

The Jewish people, who survived the Babylonian exile, wonder sy life was still difficult for them. Some in the early hristian Church wanted to burden the gentile converts with Jewish rituals. The early Church wondered why Jesus had not already returned, since they faced persecution. Our reading on the 14th Sunday in Ordinary Times invite us to embrace the virtue of hope.

God is persent among us.

We will experience sin and death, but God's love is and will always be stronger than they are.

We must hope and invite others to share in our trust and confidence.

....And our faith....

The Purpose of Galatians:  Paul’s purpose for this letter is to defend the gospel. False teachers had come into the churches of Galatia and were giving a false message. Their message was “believers still need to follow the Old Testament law”. These teachers had impure motives. Their goal was to draw a following and show “how good they were”. They brought charges against Paul saying his message was from men. Paul argued against that in this letter. He brought up how he received the gospel through revelation from Christ. These opponents were likely non-believing Jews who considered themselves to be Christians. The way they wanted to add Jewish tradition to Christianity as perquisites of acceptance before God and means of spiritual growth was similar to the pharisees.