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.