Pentecost 7 - Day 92, July 7: 2nd Kings 5:1-14; Psalm 30; Galatians 6:1-16; Luke 10:1-11; 16-20 For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! (Galatians 6:15 NRSV) Paul was born a Jew. He was also a citizen of Rome. He could be comfortable in both worlds. He could enjoy the benefits of both worlds. He was at home in neither of them. In reading the above verse from Galatians, I think about the political world of today. Party allegiance trumps almost everything. If one party is for something the other is against it. Paul did not take sides between Jew and Gentile. Those categories, while still in existence, no longer held him. He had been set free by Jesus. He is part of the new creation. This is a new reality. This is a new way of being. It lies in direct opposition to all of the old world views that divided people into groups. In the new creation all people could be one. There is no differentiation because of birth. A person had the possibility of transcending his or her caste, his or her status, his or her religion. What was formerly impossible had not only become possible, it was a concrete reality in Christ as lived out in the community gathered around Christ. The new creation was hope for the world. Enemies could become friends. The causes of war could be vanquished. The bonds that enslaved people to behave in manner that the system dictated could be broken. The new creation was everything for Paul. Jesus gave us freedom. Our world insists on staying in prison. **Tomorrow’s Readings - Day 93, July 8: Ruth 4-6; Psalm 79; John 11**
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 12:19:51 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015