Reading 1
Gal 3:22-29
Brothers and sisters:
Scripture confined all things under the power of sin,
that through faith in Jesus Christ
the promise might be given to those who believe.
Before faith came, we were held in custody under law,
confined for the faith that was to be revealed.
Consequently, the law was our disciplinarian for Christ,
that we might be justified by faith.
But now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.
For through faith you are all children of God in Christ Jesus.
For all of you who were baptized into Christ
have clothed yourselves with Christ.
There is neither Jew nor Greek,
there is neither slave nor free person,
there is not male and female;
for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s descendants,
heirs according to the promise.
Ps 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Responsorial PsalmR.
(8a) The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing to him, sing his praise,
proclaim all his wondrous deeds.
Glory in his holy name;
rejoice, O hearts that seek the LORD!
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail.
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Gospel
Lk 11:27-28
While Jesus was speaking,
a woman from the crowd called out and said to him,
“Blessed is the womb that carried you
and the breasts at which you nursed.”
He replied, “Rather, blessed are those
who hear the word of God and observe it.”
Meditation: Galatians 3:22-29
“Now that faith has come, we are no longer under a disciplinarian.” (Galatians 3:25)
Paul had a specific job description in mind when he compared the Law of Moses to a “disciplinarian” (in Greek, paidagogos). In the ancient world, this was the household servant authorized to watch over a well-off boy when he turned seven. A moral guide rather than a teacher, the paidagogos led the boy to school, supervised his behavior, and kept him out of trouble. Think of it as a kind of supernanny.
According to Paul, this is how the Law functioned. Like the disciplinarian, it established limits and rules to protect God’s people from sin. But the authority of a boy’s disciplinarian eventually ended. When a young man came of age, he gained his freedom and surely breathed a huge sigh of relief. Finally, he would be treated as an adult who could be trusted to do the right thing.
You’re like that liberated young man! Paul told the Galatians. The period of protective custody is over. The Law has led you to Christ, but now “faith has come” (Galatians 3:25)! Baptized into Christ and children of God, you are no longer minors needing constant surveillance. You are responsible members of the family of God.
The same is true for us. Through baptism, God has called us to an adult relationship with him and has changed something in us so that we can live it out. We’re no longer children, chafing under a disciplinarian’s rules. God’s law is now written on our hearts. It’s part of us, and we can follow it freely and lovingly—not out of duty and by our own power but out of love and by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Have you embraced this calling? Have you left the “disciplinarian” mentality behind? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you grasp your freedom today. Make it a point to remind yourself often: My Father is trusting me to represent him well in this situation. What does he want me to do? How is the Spirit leading me? What is the best way to love? Listen, take up your responsibilities, and know the joy of being a mature son or daughter of God.
“Thank you, Father, for sending your Spirit into my heart so that I can become more like Jesus. Holy Spirit, teach me how to love and serve God better and receive everything you have for me!”
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