Reflection on Gal 5:13
My brothers, do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh.
You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: “Love your neighbour as yourself.”
What is true freedom in Christ? It does not mean casting aside God’s laws and commandments, allowing the proud ego to indulge its unrestrained bodily desires and commit evil without remorse. Human freedom does not consist in the inviolability of the ego, which, in its pride, wants to have the final say, even over God’s word. This would be false freedom, leading to destruction. Freedom in Christ means that a person accepts the path of truth – that is, repentance – and denies himself, his own pride. He is aware of the law of the grain of wheat, which must die in order for new life to come. He thus fully recognizes the reality that the pride of our ego – untouchable and easily offended – must be called by its true name. He is conscious of this spiritual poison within the human heart, within himself, from which all wars and crimes arise and which is also the cause of eternal condemnation. On the throne of our soul sits the proud ego. It must be cast down! Jesus must take up His reign. That is the very essence of our salvation. Yet it is not so simple. Therefore, a person must devote much time to prayer in order to perceive before God the spiritual poison within himself and to receive the strength to humble himself. Definitively overthrowing the rule of this devilish seed – that is, removing our ego from the throne – is not possible without daily self-humbling. If a person strives for this every day and does not dwell on self-pity, revenge or resentment when humiliated by others, he will come to realize that victory cannot be achieved in any other way than by continually entering into God’s light, which is received through prayer. Then he becomes capable of inwardly processing humiliation and turning it to his own benefit – toward new insight, deeper experience, and more profound understanding.
How difficult it is for a person to humble himself when, in childhood, he was not guided by discipline and everyone had to revolve around him – because he demanded the inviolability of his ego and was unwilling to accept the truth his parents presented to him. The greatest gift a child can receive is good, healthy upbringing, and above all the example of the parents. This is the greatest treasure and inheritance that parents can pass on to their child.
In the Letter to the Philippians, the example of Jesus’ humility is set before our eyes. Humility is, in essence, about stripping off the old self – our corrupt nature – and allowing Jesus Christ to rule our hearts. Life is short. We are living in apocalyptic times. We Christians are called to be leaven and light precisely in this: in denying ourselves, in following Christ, and in keeping His commandments.
1. Read Philippians 2:5-8.
a) Whose example are you to follow? Verse 5
b) What position did Christ take? Verse 7
c) How did He demonstrate His servanthood? Verses 7-8
2. Consider the command in Philippians 2:3-4.
a) What are you told to do?
b) Can you think of any situation in which you are not practising this attitude of living?
c) What can you do to correct this?
Download: Reflection on Gal 5:13
