"So you are no longer a
slave, but a son, and if a son, then an heir through God." - Galatians 4:
7
There are two children in a
family. One child studies hard after being asked by his mother. He doesn't want
to study unless his mother asks him to. The other one learns without being
asked by his parents. Sometimes this child also takes the initiative to help
his mother who is cooking in the kitchen.
Such was the human condition
before knowing the Son of God who brought salvation - merely following the
commandments. The situation changed after the Son of God came and worked.
Believers now are adopted as sons, no longer slaves or servants (7). As a
child, independence and creativity are possible.
Paul likens the condition of
being a slave to when humans are bound by the law. Christ came and freed man
from the bondage of the law - to redeem them. Since he obeyed the Law
perfectly, He was not imprisoned by the Law; he was not a slave of sin. No. He
stood on the outside and was able to redeem, or 'buy us out of slavery' through
the payment of His own death (4:1).
Paul began the letter by
speaking of Jesus who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present
evil age. And that redemption was more than just a transfer of ownership from
one master to another. It wasn't only that. But that redemption was also an
adoption! Through the cross of Jesus, the slave becomes a son.
We are no longer slaves who
carry out orders out of compulsion and consider them a burden. We are children
who do anything for the love of parents. As believers, we may ask too often,
"Is this permissible or not?" As children who are redeemed by Christ,
it should no longer be our question as we are considered adults. God-given
freedom and creativity enable us to choose between right and wrong. We no
longer question whether it is permissible or not, but which ones glorify God,
bring goodness, and show qualities as children of God.
That doesn't mean we live
without rules. The principle is not to let the existing rules shackle us.
Churches generally have various rules. All these things are needed to organize
life with the church members. These rules should not turn around to enslave us,
let alone kill our faith. However, creativity must also be accompanied by sensitivity
to hear God's voice.
Reflection on Galatians 4:1-11
by Fr. Fransiskus Diaz, SVD
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