Grace, amazing grace
Martin Fair
October 05, 2024
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Galatians 6: 17-18 (NRSVA)
17 From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
Galatians is arguably Paul’s fieriest and most intemperate letter. It’s clear that what was going on in the Galatian churches had frustrated and angered him greatly, and that spills out into some of his writing in this epistle which is stronger in tone than our English translations suggest!
It’s unavoidably true that there are times for strong words. Look at some of what the great Old Testament prophets came out with in their condemnatory oracles. And of course, Jesus himself let rip when the religious hypocrisy of the Pharisees became too much to bear.
As for ourselves, we need to exercise extreme occasion in speaking angrily. It’s all too easy to do so when in fact we’re lashing out over perceived hurt. Far from expressing moral indignation or righteous anger, what we’re really doing is exposing our own impatience and childishness.
But this we should notice — that even after having had to read the riot act, Paul still finishes with words of grace. His final word is a word of peace. No doubt he was mindful of what the psalmist said of God, that ‘his anger lasts only a moment but his favour lasts a lifetime.’
Friends, may something of that be true of us. In any and every situation. May we be ready to sign off with:
‘The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.’
Prayer:
May the Lord bless you and keep you. May the Lord make his face to shine upon you and give you peace. May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. AMEN.
The Aaronic blessing, from the Book of Numbers (see Numbers 6:24–26)
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