Post-feast of the Dormition. Holy Martyr Agathonicus and those with him (286-305).
Galatians 1:1-10; 1:20-2:5; Mark 5:1-20.
Read Galatians 1:1-10
St. Paul’s authority was questioned by some in the early Church. When Paul was known as Saul, he was a great persecutor of Christians, and so this distrust in him is understandable. However, the Christians in Judea heard that “he who once persecuted us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy” (Gal. 1:23). Even though they did not know what Paul looked like, they heard of his conversion and were inspired by him. In his opening greeting in his letter to the churches of Galatia, Paul identifies himself as an apostle “not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father” (Gal. 1:1). Although the original twelve apostles were called by Christ during Christ’s ministry, Paul was called by Christ after His Ascension.
Distorted teachings were circulating, and so Paul tells the Galatians: “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). Paul stands by the truth of the gospel he preached, and even if “an angel from heaven” preached a different gospel, it would be false.
False teachings continue to circulate in the world today. There are many people who don’t want to teach the truths that are difficult and challenging to accept, telling people only what they want to hear instead of the truth. There are teachings that aim to please men instead of God. Even Paul was aware of this distortion of teachings and said: “Am I now seeking the favor of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ” (Gal. 1:10). Let us be careful to receive the orthodox teachings our Church has handed down to us, even when they challenge us.