The Spirit: Galatians 2:21-3:7, especially vs. 5: "Therefore He Who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?"
Two elements shape this verse: first, it is a question which asks us to select between two alternatives, "the works of the law" or "the hearing of faith." Second, it is a rhetorical question, and, therefore, expects the answer, "God supplies the Spirit to us by the hearing of faith." As readers of St. Paul through Galatians, if we would read with understanding, we must take into account the circumstances, which led to the particular shape of this verse.
When this letter was written, the Church was rapidly separating from the greater Jewish community in which it first formed. The separation not only affected congregations in Galatia, but also touched the whole of the Apostolic community. And the division was painful, wrenching, and confusing, with individuals and groups trying either to stop and reverse separation, or, like St. Paul, to follow the lead of the Holy Spirit at whatever cost.
The churches in Galatia were largely Gentile, composed of persons newly converted to the Faith. They understood clearly enough from St. Paul, who first introduced them to the Christian message, that the Church was Jewish, yet, at the same time, they discovered in him an openness to Gentiles not previously found in Judaism. However, after the Apostle's departure, conservative Jewish Christians appeared who sought to introduce the Galatians to the full practice of Judaism, including circumcision, the dietary food laws, and the holy days.
For St. Paul, there was a fundamental reason for not requiring the traditional Jewish practices from Gentile converts. He saw that return to the practices mandated by the Jewish Law effectively denied the essence of the Gospel. In restored obedience to the Law in place of the gift of the Spirit, received in faith with reliance on God's promises. What the traditionalists proposed was not an allowable variant expression of the Gospel, but an in depth denial of it.
The next four readings (today through Friday), reveal St. Paul urging, demanding, and pleading for the Galatians to stand fast in the Gospel he had taught them, and not to turn back to the alternative being proposed. They had received "The Fulfillment" of Judaism, the true Faith of the true Israel. And, Beloved, we too can turn away from the Good News of fulfillment in Christ to legalism. Let us also read carefully what the Apostle teaches us.
Christian Faith is a radical alternative to all legalism. Follow St. Paul's thought: he would "not set aside the grace of God," which provides "righteousness" through the death and resurrection of Christ, nor resort to a religion that is principally a matter of obedience to a code of law (vs. 21 and vs.1). It is the Holy Spirit Who fulfills righteousness in the heart, not human works of the Law (vs. 2)! Each Christian begins with the gift of the Holy Spirit in Baptism and Chrismation (vs.3). Let us not shut off life in the Spirit- His leading, teaching, and guiding, in favor of obeying rules from a book to the letter (vs. 3). Can one live right without the Spirit?
Rules and ethical codes have their ultimate source in God, and they do help us in the effort and struggle to live righteously before God, but only with the help of the Spirit which God supplies (vss. 4,5). If we revert to strict legalism, we labor in vain, no longer depending on the fulfillment which the Spirit gives us in Christ. We abandon the Spirit's transformation and miracles which He works in us (vs. 5). No, my Brethren, let us put our trust in Christ, known in and through the Spirit within the Church, for our God fulfills all righteousness in us and for us, and He it is Who forgives when we fail in the struggle to be righteous before Him (vs. 5).
O Master, by Thy grace uphold inviolate in us the seal of Thy Spirit and grant us mercy.