(Please read the Scripture first)
My sisters and brothers,
St Paul wrote his letters to address the problems his Christians faced in their day. We read these letter in the context of the problems of our day.
Some Galatians believed that the new Christians needed to receive circumcision before they received baptism. For St Paul, this was not right. Nothing was important except being a new creation through the cross of Christ. We glory or boast of nothing except the cross of Crist.
Like a faithful Jewish person, Paul had received circumcision. On the other hand, because of his faith in Christ, the mark of his circumcision was not important for him. For him, it was more important that he bear in his body the invisible mark of the cross of Christ. Therefore, for St Paul, the Galatians did not have to receive circumcision; it was only necessary that they receive baptism into Christ.
We are men and women; we are Democrats and Republicans; we speak English or Spanish; we are children, old people and young people. None of this is important. Likewise, our bank accounts, prestige, reputation, or state of life have no importance. It is not important that we be citizens or non-citizens of the United States of America. So, then, what is important? It is important that we be signed with the mark of Christ’s sufferings, which is his cross. He has baptized us in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.
We cannot see this mark of Christ: it is invisible. It is the mark of Christ who was crucified and raised from the dead. This is the mark of our baptism that we have received from Christ and that makes us the Other Christ and Child of God. This is not a mark we can see such as the stigmata of St Francis of Assisi. It is instead, the mark of the children of God.
My brother and sister Galatians, or you of the U.S.A., may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with all of you. Amen.