Eve of the Nativity of Christ; The Holy Venerable-Martyr Eugenia
Strict Fast. Day of abstinence from meat and dairy and foods containing these ingredients.
Galatians 3:8-12; Luke 13:18-29
Read Galatians 3:8-12
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
In meditating on the reading from St. Paul, I’m reminded that I recently scandalized a poor woman when I told her that I didn’t believe in “self-esteem.” She seemed quite taken aback, and who can blame her? We live in a world which continually touts the lie that if we only believe in ourselves enough, we can have anything we want.
St. Paul gives us reality today. Self-esteem (or in his time the “works of the law”) are not good enough. Our strength and dignity don’t come from ourselves but from the Lord. The fact that you are esteemed by God really sets you free and really gives you life.
Think of it this way: if you fall into a hole deep enough, you need help from someone outside the hole to pull you up. No manner of pulling yourself up by your bootstraps is going to do it. Christ our Lord, the perfect image of His Father and the perfect image of humanity has come to restore that image in us, to pull us out of the hole we’ve landed ourselves in. Instead of exalting ourselves, let us join the shepherds and magi in magnifying Him!