Keeping It Simple Spiritually

Devotional Reflection, Thursday, January 26, 2023

The week of the third Sunday after the Epiphany

The Rev. David W. Perkins, Th.D.

Key phrases for reflection from today’s epistle reading: 3:1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! 2The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing. 5Well then, does God* supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by  your believing what you heard?

You will find the full text of this epistle reading at the end of the reflection.

Daily Office Lectionary Readings (BCP, 944) AM Psalm 50; PM Psalm [59, 60] or 118 Isa. 49:13-23; Gal. 3:1-14; Mark 6:30-46

Today we celebrate the Feast of .  (See below.)

David's Reflections

It's so simple. Paul's two questions in this Epistle make it so simple."Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard?" "Does God supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?" The obvious answer to each question--"by believing what you heard."

Paul had preached the Christian message in the towns of the region ofGalatia. People had believed the message by trusting in Christ; then, they had received the Holy Spirit in Holy Baptism. After Paul left, the house churches continued to meet and the Christian message continued to be preached. The hearers continued to believe what they heard and the Holy Spirit continued to work among them.

Then, other Jewish Christian missionaries arrived, more traditional than Paul. The Galatian Christians were told that they must live like Jews, keeping the food laws and receiving circumcision. After all, they were receiving the salvation promised to the descendants of Abraham in Genesis 12, so they must become part of the people of Abraham.

Paul's stinging rebuke of that perspective makes up the letter to the Galatians. In today’s epistle reading, he poses the nodal questions. Obviously, these believers already had received the Holy Spirit before those Jewish Christian missionaries arrived with their message about keeping the Law. Obviously, the Holy Spirit had been manifested in their worship, even with miraculous healings, before those Jewish Christian missionaries arrived. Circumcision had not been required. For Paul, with these questions, "Case closed." These teachers were taking the central focus off of Christ and placing it on the law, but in so doing they were adding nothing to the experience of the Galatians.

How does one become a Christian? By faith in Jesus Christ, faith understood as trust and commitment. Our baptismal vows say it so well in the last three questions asked of candidates (or sponsors in the case of infants). "Do you turn to Jesus Christ and accept him as your savior?" "Do you put your whole trust in his grace and love?" “Do you promise to follow and obey him as your Lord?"

If the answer to those questions for you is "yes," then the HolySpirit lives within, awaiting only your desire and faith to release more fully God's presence. If the answer is "no," or "I'm not sure," then today is the day to live into the vows made at your baptism.  Answer "I do" to these questions. If you've not been baptized, today is the day to say, "I do," to those three questions and to seek Christian community.

We want this message to be clear to every person in our area and we want to be part of the mission of Christ that takes the Christian message to them. When they respond in faith, we will share in the joy of the shepherd who found his lost sheep, the woman who found her lost coin, and the father who found his lost son (Luke 15).

Collect of the Day, Third Sunday after the Epiphany Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world  may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 216)

A Collect for the Presence of Christ Lord Jesus, stay with us, for evening is at hand and the day is past; be our companion in the way, kindle our hearts, and awaken hope, that we may know you as you are revealed in Scripture and the breaking of bread. Grant this for the sake of your love. Amen. (BCP, 124)

Of the Holy Eucharist (Especially suitable for Thursdays) God our Father, whose Son our Lord Jesus Christ in a wonderful Sacrament has left us a memorial of his passion: Grant us so to venerate the sacred mysteries of his Body and Blood, that we may ever perceive within ourselves the fruit of his redemption; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (BCP, 252)

In the Order of Worship for Evening Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, creator of the changes of day and night, giving rest to the weary, renewing the strength of those who are spent, bestowing upon us occasions of song in the evening. As you have protected us in the day that is past, so be with us in the coming night; keep us from every sin, every evil, and every fear; for you are our light and salvation, and the strength of our life. To you be glory for endless ages. Amen. (BCP, 113)

A Collect for Mission O God and Father of all, whom the whole heavens adore: Let the whole earth also worship you, all nations obey you, all tongues confess and bless you, and men and women everywhere love you and serve you in peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP, 124)

Daily Office Epistle, Galatians 3:1-14 3:1You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? It was before your eyes that Jesus Christ was publicly exhibited as crucified! 2The only thing I want to learn from you is this: Did you receive the Spirit by doing the works of the law or by believing what you heard? 3Are you so foolish? Having started with the Spirit, are you now ending with the flesh? 4Did you experience so much for nothing?—if it really was for nothing. 5Well then, does God* supply you with the Spirit and work miracles among you by your doing the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard?

6 Just as Abraham `believed God, and it was reckoned to him as righteousness', 7so, you see, those who believe are the descendants of Abraham. 8And the scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, declared the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, All the Gentiles shall be blessed in you.' 9For this reason, those who believe are blessed with Abraham who believed.

10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, `Cursed is everyone who does not observe and obey all the things written in the book of the law.' 11Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law; for `The one who is righteous will live by faith.'* 12But the law does not rest on faith; on the contrary, `Whoever does the works of the law* will live by them.’ 13Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, `Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree'— 14in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.

Daily Prayer Offices in The Book of Common Prayer Morning Prayer, Rite 2, page 75, Book of Common Prayer Noonday Prayer, p. 103, Book of Common Prayer Order of Worship for Evening (Vespers), p. 109, Book of Common Prayer Evening Prayer, Rite 2, page 115, Book of Common Prayer Compline (Night Prayer), Page 127, Book of Common Prayer Daily Devotionals, page 136, Book of Common Prayer