United In Love And Understanding

As we read the letter of St. Paul to the Galatians in today's liturgy, we are told that those who cause divisions, factions, and strife will NOT inherit the Kingdom of God, among other sins of the flesh. St. Paul is not giving his homily/sermon to "those bad guys out there".  He is speaking directly to those he is writing to - the Church in Galatia, and now, us. 
 He does not mince words even though he loves them dearly. It is because he loves them as a father that he warns them that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom.


We cannot go on our feelings or emotions in such monumental important life or death issues. Whether we "feel a thing" to be right or wrong does not matter when we see from the writing of sacred scripture that they are clearly wrong. Forgiveness and mercy from Our Lord is abundant, even when we fall short again and again, but we ask for his grace to cover us and help us to stop sinning. However, St. Paul never says you are forgiven once and then you may go back to your ways of fornication, adultery, homosexuality, strife, envy, factions, dissensions, etc. and expect that all is well.

"......as you know the word 'symbol' comes from the Greek word, 'symbolein - to bring together; it is the opposite of the Greek word 'diabolein' - to break apart- the origin of our words, devil and diabolical....Our actions, The Holy Father pointed out, should unite people in love and understanding."

1. (excerpt from, Be Not Afraid, Pope John Paul II's Words of Faith, Hope and Love)