Meeting of Monday - August 18, 2008

Under the direction of Father Peter Calabrese, CRSP we continued our study of Saint Paul's Letter to the Galatians. This week we concentrated our study on Chapter 3 of St. Paul's Letter to the Galatians. Father Peter reminded us that St. Paul refers to the Galatians as foolish Galatians - foolish corresponding to the idea of them being unwise. St. Paul tends to be a rhetorical writer.

In Chapter 3, Saint Paul is opposing the works of the law, more specifically circumcision and dietary rules which in a sense defied the Jewish people. St. Paul stresses that we walk by faith.

The Galatians were lured away from the faith by following the Jewish laws too strictly. Father Peter noted that Abraham is the primary patriarch for the Jewish people. Abraham was righteous because he believed in God.

St. Paul sees the need to take care of the Galations who were somewhat slightly thick headed. St. Paul found that their ways were stubborn. The Galatians were caught up in the religiousity (rules) of the faith, rather than in being saved.

St. Paul challenges them not to revert and not to be caught up in their religiousity. St. Paul felt that by invoking the Mosaic law that they were rejecting Crhist and His teaching. The Jewish law is somewhat auto-cursed and St. Paul is busy trying to make this point.

Meeting of Monday - August 11, 2008

I apologize to the members of the Fatima Shrine Bible Study for not posting anything last week. I do hope that all are able to forgive me.

Again, Father Peter, suggested to the read the entire letter of St. Paul to the Galations in order to obtain an easier familiarity with the text at hand.

Father Peter recommended the commentary "Sacra Pagina" produced by the Liturgical Press and edited by Reverend Daniel Harrington, S.J.

In this week's meeting, we began a discussion of Galations Chapter 2. Father Peter reminded us that Paul can be a little bit ambiguous. In this particular chapter, Paul establishing his authority in this Chapter. St. Paul is somewhat opposed to the Law of Judism. Some of the verses of this chapter may be constrewed as being somewhat convoluted. St. Paul is trying to establish the fact that Jerusalem in aware of who he is. Paul focuses on the unity of the Church. Paul has a bit of pride, while at the same time he recognizes the validity of the Church in Jerusalem. St. Paul refers to the poor - the poor of Jerusalem. Paul's faith in God leads to faith in Jesus Christ.

Paul makes somewhat of a crescendo of his point at the end of Chapter 2.