Our Venerable and God-bearing Father Sabbas the Sanctified (532). Polyeleos Feast.
Nativity Fast.
Galatians 5:22-6:2. Matthew 11:27-30.
Read Galatians 5:22-6:2
St. Paul tells the Galatians to “live by the Spirit” and “walk by the Spirit” (Gal. 5:25). We Christians belong to Christ, and “those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires” (Gal. 5:24). As Christians, we must not live according to the flesh but rather have our eyes set on spiritual matters and life in the age to come. We must reject vanity and “all cares of life” which distract us from our relationship with God.
Today’s reading begins with a list of the fruits of the Holy Spirit: “love, joy peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22-23). At our Chrismation we were sealed with the Gift of the Holy Spirit, anointed as little “christs” in the world. Having been sanctified by God, we can bear these fruits of the Holy Spirit in a grace-filled life. Being in fellowship with God, by His grace we can overcome the temptations of our flesh.
Paul asks the Galatians not to have “self-conceit, no provoking of one another, no envy of one another” (Gal. 5:26). Being conceited, provoking others, and envying others tears apart our relationships with one another, but since the Holy Spirit dwells within us, it is important for us to be gentle, loving, and peaceful. As brothers and sisters in Christ, we need to look out for one another. Christians should “bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ” (Gal. 6:2). If we take care of one another in material matters, how much more then should we look out for one another in spiritual matters! We need to be able to gently admonish others when they sin without risking falling into sin ourselves.