The Epistle to the Galatians, conceived 210a

Brethren, not knowing God, you have served gods who are not gods in essence. But now, having come to know God, or, better, having received knowledge from God, why do you return again to the weak and poor material principles and want to enslave yourself to them again? You observe the days, months, times and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. I beseech you, brethren, to be as I am, for I also am like you. You have not offended me in any way: you know that, although in the weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel to you for the first time, yet you did not despise my temptation in my flesh, nor did you abhor it, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus. How blessed you were! I testify of you, that if it were possible, you would pluck out your eyes and give them to me. Have I therefore become your enemy by telling you the truth? They are jealous of you uncleanly, but they want to separate you, so that you may be jealous of them. It is good to be jealous of good things at all times, and not only in my presence with you. My children, for whom I am again in the pangs of childbirth, until Christ is formed in you! I wish I could now be with you and change my voice, because I am perplexed about you. Tell me, you who desire to be under the law, do you not listen to the law?

Galatians 4:8–21

Friday the 15th Week

Galatians, conceived 210b

Brethren, not knowing God, you have served gods who are not gods in essence. But now, having come to know God, or, better, having received knowledge from God, why do you return again to the weak and poor material principles and want to enslave yourself to them again? You observe the days, months, times and years. I am afraid for you, lest I have labored for you in vain. I beseech you, brethren, to be as I am, for I also am like you. You have not offended me in any way: you know that, although in the weakness of the flesh I preached the gospel to you for the first time, yet you did not despise my temptation in my flesh, nor did you abhor it, but received me as an angel of God, as Christ Jesus.

Galatians 4:8–14

About the sick

The Epistle to the Galatians, conceived 210th century

Brethren, Abraham had two sons, one by a slave, and the other by a free woman. But he who is of a servant is born according to the flesh; but he who is free is according to the promise. There is an allegory in this. These are two covenants: one from Mount Sinai, which gives birth to slavery, which is Hagar, for Hagar signifies Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, because he is in bondage with his children; but Jerusalem above is free: she is the mother of us all. For it is written, "Be glad, you barren, you who do not give birth; cry out and cry out, not tormented by childbirth; for she who is forsaken has many more children than she who has a husband. We, brethren, are the children of the promise according to Isaac. But as then he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so also now. What does the Scripture say? Cast out the servant and her son, for the son of the slave shall not be heir with the son of the free woman. And so, brethren, we are not the children of slaves, but of a free woman.

Galatians 4:22–31

September 9, to the righteous Joachim and Anna

September 23, the Conception of St. John the Baptist

The Epistle to the Galatians, conceived 211