Pope faces freedom, grace and the Christian way of life in a new cycle of catechesis

The Pope has started a new cycle of catechesis on the Letter of Saint Paul to the Galatians. 

Francis wants to “delve into some important questions that he raises – and which are very current also in the Church today – such as freedom, grace and the Christian way of life.”

Saint Paul wrote this epistle when “some Christians from Judaism began to infiltrate, exposing contrary theories, and presenting themselves as the only possessors of the truth, sowing confusion and division,” the Pope recalled. 

“Also today some present Christianity as if they were the” owners of the truth “, with the temptation to lock themselves in some forms and traditions of the past, as a possible solution to crises. Faced with this temptation, the apostle’s teaching is that we follow the liberating and ever-new path of Jesus crucified and risen; that we continue the path of proclamation, which is carried out through humility and fraternity; and that we do it with confidence, with the certainty that the Holy Spirit always acts and guides the Church ”, he concluded.

CATECHESIS TEXT IN SPANISH

Dear brothers and sisters:

Today we begin a new cycle of catechesis. I want us to reflect together on some themes that the Apostle Paul presents in his Letter to the Galatians.

This letter, on the one hand, helps us to better understand the life of the Apostle, his conversion and his following of Jesus.

On the other hand, he invites us to delve into some important questions that he raises – and which are very current also in the Church today – such as freedom, grace and the Christian way of life.

After having founded some small communities in the region of Galatia, Saint Paul warned of a danger, since some Christians from Judaism began to infiltrate who expounded contrary theories, and presented themselves as the only holders of the truth, sowing confusion and division. Those first communities, thanks to the Apostle, had known new life and freedom in Christ, however, faced with these criticisms and tensions, their faith began to falter.

Also today, as in those times, some present Christianity as if they were the “owners of the truth”, with the temptation to lock themselves in some forms and traditions of the past, as a possible solution to crises. Faced with this temptation, the teaching that the Apostle gives us in the Letter to the Galatians is that we follow the liberating and ever-new path of Jesus crucified and risen; that we continue the path of proclamation, which is carried out through humility and fraternity; and that we do so with confidence, with the certainty that the Holy Spirit always acts and guides the Church.

I cordially greet the Spanish-speaking faithful. Let us ask the Lord, through the intercession of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, which we will celebrate next week, to help us open ourselves to his grace, to be able to see, judge and act from the truth and freedom that come from the encounter with Christ. God bless you.

Thank you.

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