Post-feast of the Exaltation of the Cross; Holy Great-Martyr Eustathius and those with him (276-82); Holy Martyrs and Confessors for the Faith, the Grand Prince Michael, and His Nobleman Theodore, Wonderworkers of Chernihiv (1245)
Galatians 5:11-21; Mark 7:5-16
Read Galatians 5:11-21
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
St. Paul reminds us today about the importance of one of the Divine gifts that reflects the image of God in us: our free will. We received this gift so that we may exercise and grow in Godliness through the practice of virtue. Our free will is a double edged sword: we can use our freedom as an opportunity for the flesh or for love. For love to truly be authentic it must be a free, willing, self-offering for the good of the other. And this is exactly what St. Paul reminds the Galatians that ‘through love be servants of one another.” This not only fulfills the law, but it is also the proper and Godly use of the gift of free will.