Our Venerable Father Alypius the Stylite (610-41); James the Hermit (457); The Blessing of the Church of the Holy Great-Martyr George which is in Kiev, before the Gates of Holy Wisdom Cathedral (1019-54)
Nativity Fast
Galatians 1:3-10; Luke 9:37-43
Read Galatians 1:3-10
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory forever!
We hear strong words today from St. Paul to the Galatians regarding fidelity to the gospel. This letter of St. Paul’s is sometimes referred to as the “Epistle of Tears” because of its strong and challenging language. Paul, as a good father, is protecting his spiritual children from the threat of heresy. In our day and age we might be tempted to think that these various conceptions of Christ were simply preferences: vanilla vs. chocolate type of choices. St. Paul however knows that only the true gospel of Christ saves. What is at stake is not a personal preference or idea, but salvation. Either the Cross and ultimate love or error and darkness.
It is easy to think that the Church is at liberty to change her beliefs to make the faith more palatable to the modern person, and of course we need to find new ways to explain and communicate the gospel message. However, the real gospel will always remain at the same time both scandalous and salvific.