Sunday Reflection (June 26, 2022)

As Christians, when we think of fleshly sins, we usually think of sexual sins, and Paul mentions them, but he also mentions other fleshly sins: Envy, jealousy, and quarrels: Have you considered those as fleshly sins? Our politics is full of such fleshly issues, yet we also experience them on personal levels, which we may call drama, but it is more than that: It is the misuse of our freedom of choice (Galatians 5:1, 13, 19-21). If we are not considerate of others and lack love and compassion, we will bear bad fruit (Galatians 5:16-18 22-26).

Fleshly sins reflect unnecessary conflict and division, but before pointing out the rotten fruit of others, may we examine ourselves and discover our own lack of good fruit which Paul describes as “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” We entrust ourselves to God’s faithfulness and the leading of the Holy Spirit and given the opportunity the Holy Spirit will produce good fruit in our lives, yet what do we do with freedom? Freedom in the sense that Galatians gives it is the freedom “to serve others in love” (Galatians 5:13-16).  What fetters prevent you and me from serving others in love?